boost cooperation with Israel in fighting terrorism and played down Moscow’s controversial support for Iran’s nuclear and Syria’s missile programs. Putin, seeking growing influence in the Middle East, spoke in Jerusalem where he signed agreements with Israeli President Moshe Katzav to increase business and cultural links between the two countries before discussing strategic issues over lunch with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Speaking to reporters, the Russian leader said his country supports "only the peaceful use of nuclear power in Iran" and that Tehran is required to return depleted uranium to Moscow so that it cannot be used to make weapons.
"We are working with Iran in order to develop the atom for peaceful ends and we are against any program that might give Iran atomic weapons capability," Putin reportedly said. Putin conceded, however, that existing safeguards are not enough and Iran must be made to agree to a nuclear inspection program, the Voice of America (VOA) network reported.
MISSILE PLAN
Putin also defended a plan to sell anti-aircraft missiles to Syria, which Sharon has been seeking to block, noting that 25 percent of Israelis have Russian origins. "We want those people to live in security,", Bloomberg news agency quoted him as saying. "We are not planning to do anything that would upset the balance of forces in the region."
He was earlier told media that the only problem with the missiles was that it "would be more difficult to fly over the Syrian President’s mansion."
However Putin’s statements that his policies do not pose a threat to Israeli security did reportedly not satisfy leaders of the Jewish state. Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was quoted as saying that Russia is selling components to Iran that can be used to make nuclear weapons and that is a cause for concern.
PEACE CONFERENCE
Putin arrived in Israel Wednesday evening, April 27, from Egypt where he announced that he wants to host a Middle East peace conference in Moscow. The suggestion was warmly welcomed by the Palestinians but not the Israelis who are focusing on their plan to withdraw all Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip later this summer, VOA reported. They say conditions are not yet right for such a multi-party conference.
Washington was reportedly also cool to the idea too. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said that the time has not yet come for an international conference. The internationally backed peace plan known as the "road map" calls for such a conference during its second phase but neither party has yet fulfilled the requirements of the first phase. Putin meets with Palestinian leaders on Friday, April 29.
(With VOA’s Larry James in Jerusalem, and reports from Israel and Washington)
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