Putin endorses U.N. unifying role

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has endorsed the United Nations as the "key" unifying factor in the global fight against terror.

The president, who is on his first state visit to the United States this week, said "the key role in strengthening the unity" of the world in its campaign to stamp out terror attacks "belongs to the U.N."

He stressed the agencies involved in the fight against terror must be unified and carry out their duties in a "common effort."

Putin, who was talking at the Russian Embassy on Tuesday, added: "An entirely new level of interaction between leading powers is necessary.

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"What we need is a fully fledged, constantly functioning alliance or union."

Putin said faithful adherence by all nations to U.N. Security Council resolutions aimed at attacking the financial backing for terrorist activities must be ensured.

He called for the adoption of "a comprehensive convention of fighting terrorism and an international convention fighting nuclear terrorism.

"All countries should accede to the already existing international treaties on the fight against terrorism and bring the international legislation in compliance with those agreements."

In referring to the terror actions in Washington and New York, Putin said: "Terrible acts of evil have been committed against each other and every one of us."

He referred to two Russians who became caught up in the suicide plane strikes on the World Trade Center, calling them heroes.

One, an engineer of Russian descent, "rescued almost 70 people from the building and died later in the debris."

Another, a journalist, helped rescue people from the twin towers and "did so until he collapsed with a massive heart attack."

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On the matter of arms reduction -- the top issue of his summit talks with President George W. Bush, Putin said "Russia declares and reiterates its readiness to make considerable reductions in strategic arms.

"That is why today we propose a radical programme of further reductions of strategic offensive arms by at least three times to a minimal level necessary for maintaining strategic balance in the world."

Bush had earlier said on Tuesday that the United States will reduce its nuclear stockpile during the next decade by about two-thirds -- by about 1,700 to 2,200 warheads.

Putin said his country will try to reduce its arsenal as well.

Putin said Russia's position on the 1972 Antiballistic Missile Treaty -- which Bush wants to scrap to develop a national missile defence system -- remains "unchanged."

Russia has indicated it does not want to scrap that treaty, but Putin said discussions on that issue will continue.

And Putin cited a willingness to discuss an "entirely new partnership" with the United States to reflect the post-Cold War era.

Bush and Putin will continue their talks later this week at the U.S. president's ranch in Crawford, Texas.