Last update - 00:00 26/10/2007
Russian officials, in Israel, downplay Iranian nuke threat
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Russia would like Israel to send Syria "positive signals" in order to encourage it to end its alliance with Iran, two senior officials from the Russian Foreign Ministry told Israeli officials during a visit to Israel this week.
The Russians also presented their assessment that Iran is nowhere near acquiring nuclear weapons.
The Russian officials - Deputy Foreign Minister for the Middle East Alexander Saltanov and special envoy for the peace process Sergei Yakovlev - met with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Ministry Director General Aharon Abramowitz.
Most of the talks were devoted to the Iranian and Palestinian issues.
However, the Russians also discussed the Syrian issue, saying that Israel must send Damascus "signals" about the benefits it would gain by changing its policies.
"If you want them to do something like disengaging from Iran, give them good reason to assume it will be worth their while," said one, according to Israeli officials.
However, the Israelis responded that it is Jerusalem that needs "signals" from Damascus about its genuine desire for peace, not vice versa.
On Iran, the Russians insisted that they are committed to ensuring that Tehran does not acquire nuclear weapons. "We also don't want that to happen," said one, according to Israeli officials. "Remember that the distance between Tehran and Tel Aviv is identical to that between Tehran and Moscow."
However, they continued, unlike Israel, Russia does not believe that Tehran is anywhere near acquiring such weapons.
"The difference between us and you is that you're basing yourselves on estimates, whereas we're basing ourselves on precise information," said one, according to the Israeli officials. "When we see that the situation is sufficiently dangerous, we'll know how to stop the Iranians, and if we want to, we can do this without difficulty."
They also said they objected to the way the United States is managing the effort to get sanctions against Iran through the UN Security Council.
"They invite us to an American restaurant with a French chef and expect us to eat without asking questions," complained one, according to the Israeli sources.
Nevertheless, the Israelis received the impression that Russia has eased its opposition to sanctions, and that after the International Atomic Energy Agency submits its report on Iran next month, Moscow will back additional sanctions against Tehran.
Regarding the upcoming Israeli-Palestinian peace conference in Annapolis, the Russians said they agreed with Israel that this is only the start of the process, not its end. They added that Russia would like to host a follow-up conference in Moscow this spring, at which the Syrian issue would also be discussed.