Putin, Bush Agree on Joint Efforts in Middle East

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart George W. Bush expressed deep worry over the unprecedented deterioration of the Palestinian-Israeli confrontation during their telephone talks on Tuesday.

The two men also vowed joint efforts in promoting a Middle East peace settlement, both in a bilateral format and in cooperation with other members of the international community, said an official in Putin's press service.

The presidents also exchange views about urgent issues in bilateral relations, in particular on talks of strategic stability, the prospect for Russian-NATO relations and trade cooperation despite the recession, home sales in the US hit record highs last year. Buyers snapped up both new and existing homes, motivated not only by low mortgage rates but also by increases in home values.

The 1.1 percent increase in construction spending in February matched the rise recorded in February 2001. It marked the third straight month in a row that construction spending went up.

The department also said that construction spending rose 0.8 percent in January, a much smaller increase than the 1.5 percent advance the government previously reported.

(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2002)