For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 4, 2006

Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan
Aboard Air Force One
En Route Shannon, Ireland

1:52 P.M. EST

MR. McCLELLAN: All right, this will be brief. The President spoke with President Putin. President Putin initiated the call. President Putin called the President to update him on the Russian side's conversations with Hammas. And they also talked about the Iranian nuclear issue. President Putin talked about the continuing conversations that they are having with the -- that the Russians are having with the regime in Iran.

And on Hamas, the President reiterated the importance of the Quartet statement, which calls for Hamas to renounce violence, recognize Israel and disarm. And that's the two issues that they talked about in the conversation.

Q Where was the President when he talked to him?

MR. McCLELLAN: In the cabin.

Q Right now?

MR. McCLELLAN: It was just a few -- this was completed about 10, 15 minutes ago.

Q How long did they talk?

MR. McCLELLAN: Probably around 15 minutes, maybe a little bit more.

Q Did they talk about the Indian nuclear deal at all?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, just the two topics that they discussed were the -- Hamas and the Iranian nuclear deal.

All right, we'll send this transcript out to everybody on the ground. Have a good flight.

END 1:53 P.M. EST