19/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - "Russia and the EU's positions on Iraq are similar", announced the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Igor Ivanov, after a meeting on Tuesday evening in Moscow between Vladimir Putin and Romano Prodi. The Russian President informed the Commission President of his "positive reaction" to the EU Summit declarations of 19 February, he said. Mr Prodi, who indicated that his trip to Moscow had been planned with the Greek Presidency which informed the other member states, repeated his desire to build "a group of friendly countries" (an anello) around the EU, adding: "Russia is in first place" (è al primo posto).