Russia will support any option of reforming the United Nations' Security Council approved by consensus and not reducing it to a mere debate club, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in the resort city of Svetlogorsk near Kaliningrad on Sunday.

"Russia can accept any reasonable option that will have support from the maximum number of states. The main thing for us is that the debate on the reform would not split the organization, provoke conflicts and misunderstanding or transform the Security Council into a mere debate club incapable of making any decisions on any pressing issues," Putin said at a news conference in Kaliningrad following the talks with the leaders of France and Germany.

He said that the fundamental approaches of Russia, France and Germany to the UN reform coincide.

"Russia will continue supporting Germany as candidate to the seat of permanent member of the UN Security Council," Putin said.

In his turn French President Jacques Chirac, also standing for Germany as a potential permanent UN Security Council member, said "countries that are contributing heavily to UN affairs should get a corresponding seat on the Security Council."

Putin voiced confidence that Russia and the European Union are "moving in the right direction" in their relations, saying the current changes in Russia and Europe will have a positive effect on the future of both sides.

Speaking of the effectiveness of the troika of Russia, France and Germany, Putin said that the three countries "are absolutely convinced that we are doing a very necessary and useful thing both for our own three nations and for the rest of Europe and the world."

He said Russia's relations with France and Germany may serve as an example of successful and constructive interaction.

Chirac meanwhile expressed hope that a decision on the non-proliferation in Iran will be made in the spirit of normal relations with the EU Troika.

At the press conference Putin also suggested making the subject of energy security a priority during Russia's chairmanship in G8 in 2006.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, for his part, voiced hope that before the G8 summit in 2006 Russia will complete documents on international energy cooperation.

He also expressed hope for very close relations between Russia and EU.

(Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2005)