Last update - 00:00 17/10/2006
PM en route to Moscow: Russia doesn't want to see nuclear Iran
By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told reporters while en route to Moscow on Tuesday that Russia does not want to see a nuclear Iran and is not leaking information on nuclear technology to Tehran.
The prime minister landed in Moscow on Tuesday for a three-day visit to discuss Russia's involvement in the Iranian nuclear program.
Olmert will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss Russia's cooperation with Iran and the UN Security Council's difficulty to formulate a plan for sanctions against Tehran.
Olmert said that he would not discuss specific sanctions for Iran with Russian leaders, but would focus on ways to block Tehran from achieving nuclear capability.
Olmert also said Putin has been very cooperative regarding efforts to free Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit and even sent a special delegation of Russian representatives to Damascus to promote the issue.
Shalit was kidnapped by militants belonging to a group linked to the Palestinian Hamas movement on June 25.
The Russian delegation will meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and will send a message to Hamas leader Khaled Meshal, saying that Shalit must not be harmed in any way.
Olmert also addressed the issue of the smuggling of Russian weapons from Syria to Hezbollah guerillas in Lebanon. The prime minister said Putin has promised him that he would not allow Israel's national security to be jeopardized.
Putin said Russia is obligated to supply Syria with weapons with which to defend itself, but he would look into the matter of arms smuggling.
The Russian government has told Israel it would increase efforts to monitor arms exported from Russia.
Though the statement referred to all arms deliveries, it will mostly effect Syria and is intended to block Syrian arms smugglers from transferring Russian weapons to Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations.
The statement is regarded by Israel as a sign of goodwill on the part of the Russian government, in light of Olmert's visit in Moscow.
According to the new decree, any country that buys Russian weapons will be subjected to rigorous monitoring and Russian officials will be allowed to visit the country at any time to make sure the arms were not transferred to any other organization.
During the meeting, Olmert will also address matters important to the Jewish world. He will visit the most important synagogue in Moscow on Arhipova street. But since this synagogue has received extensive funding from Russian-Israeli businessman Arkadi Gaydamak, the prime minister has been advised to visit a Habbad synagogue backed by Lev Leviev as well.
In addition, the prime minister will meet with parents whose children were killed while serving in the IDF and the Russian parents of soldiers currently serving in Israel.
In addition to Putin, Olmert will meet with Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and if his tight schedule permits it, he will also meet with Russian Prime Minister Michail Fradkov.