Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the hijacking of a Russian plane, which landed in Israel, as the Israeli leader was en route to Washington late Sunday.
"Prime Minister Barak spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin from his plane, thanking him for the quick and decisive manner in which he dealt with the terror incident," Barak's office said in a statement released as the Israeli leader arrived here at Andrews Air Force Base.
In the brief conversation, Barak told his Russian counterpart that "unfortunately we are facing some tests ahead and it would be appropriate to join hands in an international effort to prevent terror," the statement said.
Putin responded that "it is a shame that there are madmen that have a crazy effect on the world."
Putin thanked the prime minister for turning his plane around with the intention of returning to Israel to handle the incident, despite the Israeli leader's tight schedule.
A Dagestani Airlines plane was hijacked late Saturday by a lone hijacker with a fake bomb who forced the pilot to fly to Israel.
None of the 58 passengers and crew was harmed during the incident, which ended with the hijacker's surrender.
Barak is in Washington for talks with US President Bill Clinton about the ongoing tension in the Middle East and the hoped-for resumption of peace talks between the Israelis and the Palestinian Authority – WASHINGTON (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
