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Last update - 14:40 12/09/2008
Russia: Moscow-Tehran ties don't harm Israel
By Adar Primor, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Russia, Israel, arms dealing 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared on Friday that ties between Russia and Iran don't pose a threat to Israel, and that Russian decisions in regard to Teheran's leadership are not directed at Israel.

Lavrov's remarks came in response to a question posed by a Haaretz reporter, who asked whether Moscow plans to "play the Iran card" and torpedo Western efforts to impose sanctions on Tehran in efforts to prevent the Islamic Republic from developing nuclear weapons.

The Russian foreign minister didn't answer the question directly, but did say that Russia's decisions on the issue of Iran are not meant to harm Israel. We have good historic ties with the Iranians. "We send them weapons, but only for defensive purposes ? no weapons that would cause regional instability."
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Speaking at the annual Valdai forum which brings world leaders to Moscow to discuss global diplomatic issues, Lavrov added that Russia's stance hasn't changed, and that Iran needs to abide by the guidelines set forth by the United Nations nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency. He added that Russia was receiving positive signals on Iran's compliance with those guidelines.

Lavrov went on to say that Russian representatives have been recently invited to participate in another round of talks on Iran's disputed nuclear program in their capacity as part of the group of six major powers ? the five permanent United Nations Security Council members, Russia, China, U.S. Britain and France, as well as Germany.

Russia is known to support the notion that Iran should not be punished over its nuclear program, and it was clear from Lavrov's remarks that Russia intends to continue supporting the moderate economic sanctions currently in place against Iran.

In regard to the cooperation between Israel and Russia's neighbor Georgia, Lavrov said that the Israeli government froze its weapons shipments to the region two weeks before Georgia attempted to retake the rebel region of South Ossetia, a move that sparked a Russian invasion into Georgia, thus hinting that Israel knew in advance about the attack. The foreign minister expressed his satisfaction, however, over Israel's response, saying that he hoped Israel would not resume arming Georgia.

We saw what the Israeli weapons were ultimately used for, he said, a comment that was viewed by some as a veiled threat aimed at Jerusalem.

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  1.   Lavrov, hinting and promising. 15:10  |  Stephen 12/09/08
  2.   Does not Russia hurt Israel? It does. 15:15  |  Vital 12/09/08
  3.   So why does Russia object to U.S. defensive missile systems? 17:45  |  McQueen 12/09/08
  4.   Russian arms are for non non-democratic use 18:00  |  Nora 12/09/08
  5.   Riiiiight... 18:00  |  Gili 12/09/08
  6.   Just Friends 18:25  |  Cool B 12/09/08
  7.   # 3 nora 18:32  |  Axel 12/09/08
  8.   Gili 18:33  |  Paul 12/09/08
  9.   # 5 gili 18:36  |  Axel 12/09/08
  10.   #6 Cool B...Russia was the direct cause of 18:59  |  Lynn 12/09/08
  11.   History repeating itself 19:03  |  Arie 12/09/08
  12.   Responsibility. To 6. 19:35  |  Vital 12/09/08
  13.   Defensive arms for Georgia 19:42  |  mike 12/09/08
  14.   To Axel. 19:42  |  Vital 12/09/08
  15.   #3 McQueen, it`s the radar 19:48  |  Mark B. 12/09/08
  16.   #8 and #9 20:13  |  Gili 12/09/08
  17.   Godfather or confidant 20:18  |  allang 12/09/08
  18.   Moscow-Tehran-Venezuela ties 20:28  |  Jon 12/09/08
  19.   16 - Jon has never heard of SCO 21:02  |  spyguy 12/09/08
  20.   #3 McQueen - How would you feel 21:11  |  spyguy 12/09/08
  21.   So call democrat country 21:29  |  farrokh 12/09/08
  22.   Russia will arm Iran, Syria & Venezuela 21:41  |  Ron 12/09/08
  23.   Moscow-Tehran ties will never harm Israel 22:06  |  lady from USA 12/09/08
  24.   I have said and I repeat again Russia is not stupid 22:29  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 12/09/08
  25.   I`m finding it more interesting what Mr Lavrov is NOT saying 22:30  |  Kris Lazar 12/09/08
  26.   Deceptive Russia 22:37  |  Chris 12/09/08
  27.   they don`t harm! 22:49  |  Sam 12/09/08
  28.   McQueen - It`s Also the Encirclement 23:02  |  Mark of Lewiston 12/09/08
  29.   Moscow?defensive weapons 23:06  |  Joe 12/09/08
  30.   they will hurt *russia*. 00:38  |  frenz 13/09/08
  31.   Peace, please? 04:52  |  matt 13/09/08
  32.   Two Timing Double Dealing Russia 05:11  |  Yuri 13/09/08
  33.   DO AS I SAY AND NOT AS I DO, hypocrites 05:57  |  VIPER 13/09/08
  34.   #3, MC QUEEN, hypocrite 06:00  |  VIPER 13/09/08
  35.   #4, NORA, how forgetful 06:02  |  VIPER 13/09/08
  36.   #18, JON, already done 06:04  |  VIPER 13/09/08
  37.   #!1, My Swiss Buddy 21:50  |  Gary 13/09/08
  38.   Tehran ties to Russia.. 10:37  |  Edithann, USA 14/09/08
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