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Olmert in Russia: Iranians should be afraid
By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies

MOSCOW - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday that Israel will not allow a situation in which Iran gains access to unconventional weapons and warned Iranians to "be afraid."

"I will not address sensitive issues, if we will do this or do that, but the Iranians should be afraid," Olmert told reporters following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov in Moscow.

"The Iranians need to be afraid that something will happen that they do not want to happen to them," Olmert continued.
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"We don't have the privilege to allow a situation in which Iran has the capability for unconventional weapons," he said.

He also told Putin that Russia must exert its influence to help solve the international standoff surrounding Iran's nuclear program.

"Russia has a central and very important role in the world, especially with regard to the nuclear standoff which is worrying us all," Olmert said in his opening remarks to the Russian president.

"I leave this meeting with the sense that President Putin understands better than before the danger that is lurking from Iran's direction, should it succeed in realizing its objectives of arming itself with nuclear weapons," he added

Putin did not address Iran's nuclear program in his comments to Olmert during their meeting, prefering to focus on Russia's role in the push for the Mideast peace process to be stepped up.

"The only way to get out of the vicious circle of violence is to stop making mutual accusations, free hostages and resume peaceful dialogue," Putin said. "Russia as a member of the Middle East Quartet intends to assist in a rapid stabilization of the situation and a resumption of the negotiating process."

Asked by reporters if he was disappointed by Putin's silence or had received private assurances, Olmert replied that he was convinced Putin is "very concerned" Iran might acquire nuclear capabilities, but refused to go into further detail.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, however, said on Wednesday that international action over Tehran's nuclear program must be in proportion to the real situation in Iran, which he added does not appear to include a threat to peace and security.

"It is necessary to act on Iran but that action should be in direct proportion to what is really happening," the RIA news agency quoted Lavrov as saying.

"And what is really happening is what the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] reports to us. And the IAEA is not reporting to us about the presence there of a threat to peace and security," said Lavrov.

During his meeting with Olmert, Putin praised Russia's improved ties with Israel, which he attributed to the "mutual faith" exhibited by both countries and to the large population of Russian emigrants in Israel.

The Russian government made a few gestures in honor of Olmert's three-day visit to Moscow and the 15th anniversary of the renewal of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Some of the gestures were ceremonial in nature, while others had diplomatic and military significance.

On the ceremonial side, Putin agreed to make a statement to the press at the conclusion of his meeting with Olmert at the Kremlin on Wednesday. The Russian president does not usually make such statements after working meetings, as opposed to state visits. The usual practice after a working meeting is to hold a photo opportunity only.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov's decision to meet with Olmert is another gesture, which is aimed at underscoring a third gesture: A Russian directive issued last week to increase supervision over the country's arms exports. The directive is intended to prevent Russian arms from ending up with a third party, as occurred during the war in Lebanon, when Russian antitank missiles meant for Syria were transferred to Hezbollah and used against Israeli soldiers.

Haaretz has learned that the Israel Defense Forces captured 39 such missiles, some of them in their original packaging, along with shipment papers and other documentation, including serial numbers. Israeli officials showed photographs of these missiles and copies of the documentation to their Russian counterparts during meetings in Moscow about a month ago.
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  1.   Neo-Soviets laugh at Olmert the Clown 06:53  |  dave 18/10/06
  2.   and if you believe this do i have a bridge to sell you 09:09  |  ralph 18/10/06
  3.   But first they denied that weapons that were not to be sold or 09:57  |  Shlomzion 18/10/06
  4.   israeli prisoners in Russia 10:43  |  Mike 18/10/06
  5.   UN Exempts Russian Reactor In Iran! 11:30  |  Rowan Berkeley 18/10/06
  6.   THE RUSSIANS talk about propotionalty does that include Chechnya 13:22  |  PETER SM 18/10/06
  7.   More business for the Russian Mafia 13:45  |  Dave 18/10/06
  8.   FAST SANCTIONS of UN - for North Korea, SLOW REACTION - for Iran. 13:52  |  Vittorio 18/10/06
  9.   And the U.S. loads up the stockpiles of Israel. Nu?? 13:54  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/10/06
  10.   #8 - OIL 14:04  |  redmike 18/10/06
  11.   good on you Sullivan 14:24  |  Ben Sina 18/10/06
  12.   Russia and Iran 14:29  |  Brod 18/10/06
  13.   failure after failure for israel 14:37  |  * TALKBACK OBSERVER* 18/10/06
  14.   what will be the result 14:50  |  * TALKBACK OBSERVER* 18/10/06
  15.   to mike and peter sm 14:54  |  * TALKBACK OBSERVER* 18/10/06
  16.   to #5 15:01  |  * TALKBACK OBSERVER* 18/10/06
  17.   Israel has no friends except the US 15:07  |  Mary 18/10/06
  18.   like all whores he is a bought man, what else would he say! 15:08  |  ralph 18/10/06
  19.   to vittoro 15:58  |  *TALCKBACK OBSERVER* 18/10/06
  20.   Russian & Israeli Military Export 15:59  |  Lions Gate 18/10/06
  21.   The Rise of non-aligned countries and the decline of the US 16:08  |  Soothsayer 18/10/06
  22.   This Iran story is getting rather boring 16:18  |  Chris Linthwaite 18/10/06
  23.   In return 16:50  |  Nora 18/10/06
  24.   Olmert is just farting, its free and doesnt require any effort 17:09  |  Moise 18/10/06
  25.   America feeds Israel more nuks. etc 17:10  |  Danny 18/10/06
  26.   There`s No Buisness Like Show Buisness 17:56  |  Tony Anthony 18/10/06
  27.   Danny, yes, and what about..........#25 18:15  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/10/06
  28.   THE REAL THREAT 18:24  |  Bert 18/10/06
  29.   Islamic imperialism 18:28  |  Yonatan 18/10/06
  30.   Oh, God, Olmerts Can`t Shut His Mouth! 18:28  |  Yaakov Sullivan 18/10/06
  31.   Olmert threatens to destroy Iran 18:41  |  Chris Linthwaite 18/10/06
  32.   Dave in NYC 18:50  |  rich 18/10/06
  33.   Olmert is a brave man, Israel a brave country! 18:58  |  Parker 18/10/06
  34.   Iran threats 19:07  |  Altalena 18/10/06
  35.   iran is no cake walk... 19:17  |  mike katz 18/10/06
  36.   Patheic Olmert...Yeah, right Iran is afraid of you and Bush. 19:24  |  bat yam 18/10/06
  37.   "Iranians should be afraid" 19:33  |  whizbang 18/10/06
  38.   Iranian weapons 19:45  |  Steve Beikirch 18/10/06
  39.   nuke the oil fields today 19:51  |  Humane solution 18/10/06
  40.   Olmert should be in Damascus not Moscow 19:54  |  Arab 18/10/06
  41.   like wise 19:58  |  She7a 18/10/06
  42.   A threat also gives the enemy warning. 20:00  |  Ethan 18/10/06
  43.   think that over Olmert! 20:02  |  takhte jamshid 18/10/06
  44.   vitorrio and standards. 20:03  |  Billy Jack 18/10/06
  45.   give `em the ultimatum - give up nukes or get nuked! 20:07  |  jay 18/10/06
  46.   To #40 20:19  |  jay 18/10/06
  47.   Afrikaaner Mary 20:20  |  Linichka 18/10/06
  48.   #5Rowan Berkeley 20:22  |  Yonatan 18/10/06
  49.   #21 Soothsayer 20:24  |  Jon 18/10/06
  50.   Just shut the hell up Olmert 20:25  |  Danite 18/10/06
  51.   Chris Linthwaite 20:25  |  Sol 18/10/06
  52.   "Yaakov" 20:27  |  Danite 18/10/06
  53.   #25 Tony Anthony - perhaps it is a show 20:28  |  Yonatan 18/10/06
  54.   Iranians Should Have No Fear While Olmert Is Around 20:40  |  Tod Zuckerman 18/10/06
  55.   A clown now, he brings a smile 20:41  |  Natallie Durson 18/10/06
  56.   #32 : Rich (London) Partner in the Middle East 20:45  |  Haley 18/10/06
  57.   ursual zionist bully 20:45  |  karim 18/10/06
  58.   Re: Arab from Dubai 20:49  |  Parker 18/10/06
  59.   40:Arab... 20:57  |  bat yam 18/10/06
  60.   Arab from Dubai 21:01  |  Michelle 18/10/06
  61.   If Russia doesn`t wise up, Russians should be Afraid 21:06  |  Michelle 18/10/06
  62.   Iran Does Not Fear Israel, Much Less Olmert 21:16  |  Mr. Knowitall 18/10/06
  63.   Olmert bangs his tiny tin drum 21:17  |  Clickfool 18/10/06
  64.   Putin Soviet regime does what Molotov did with Ribbentrop 21:20  |  Haham me Bat Yam 18/10/06
  65.   Yaakov Sullivan 21:20  |  Someone Else 18/10/06
  66.   Russian Visit 21:23  |  Dale 18/10/06
  67.   To 40. Arab. Yes 21:26  |  Altalena 18/10/06
  68.   Okay, That`s Enough Time For Victims! 21:30  |  Dr. Strangelove 18/10/06
  69.   Olmert threatens to wipe out Iran 21:42  |  George Goldman 18/10/06
  70.   Iran’s secret nuclear program must be destroyed! 21:45  |  Jonathan S 18/10/06
  71.   Ignorance 21:57  |  Jefe 18/10/06
  72.   olmert 22:03  |  tom 18/10/06
  73.   Dave #1, Bingo! 22:05  |  FinanceDoc 18/10/06
  74.   #28 Bert 22:10  |  David ben Avraham 18/10/06
  75.   #44 Sol No I do not 22:12  |  Chris Linthwaite 18/10/06
  76.   Kill em all 22:17  |  Herald of a new age 18/10/06
  77.   Haley 22:18  |  rich 18/10/06
  78.   To #35 so-called "Mike Katz" 22:31  |  Howard 18/10/06
  79.   Iran should be very very afraid 22:43  |  Paul Freedman 18/10/06
  80.   war or sanctions 22:56  |  mike fowler 18/10/06