Larijani: Russia can play effective role in process of nuclear talks
Iran-Russia, Politics, 10/3/2006

Iran's Secretary of Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, today said that Russia is Iran's close friend and can play effective role in process of negotiations on nuclear program.

He told Iranian and foreign reporters after his three-hour talks with his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov that he briefed Ivanov on four rounds of talks with European Union (EU) foreign policy and security chief Javier Solana.

"Iran and Russia have regular consultations on nuclear issue and the two countries have closer views on the issue," Larijani said.

He said that both Iran and Russia are unanimous about settlement of the nuclear row through negotiations.

Ivanov said, for his part, that Iran and Russia always hold consultations on bilateral and international issues and it is significant in light of the infra-structural cooperation between the two countries.

"I discussed with Mr. Larijani nuclear and regional issues." He said that Moscow supports Iran-EU negotiations which would pave the way for multilateral talks for cooperation.

"The Russian Federation believes that all the issues concerning Iranian nuclear program should be settled at the negotiating table and Moscow would support such an approach," Ivanov said.

Asked about commissioning of Bushehr nuclear power plant, he said that it would be commissioned according to the timetable set in bilateral agreement with Head of Iranian Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) Reza Aqazadeh.

Responding to a question about probability of adopting another resolution on Iran nuclear program by the UN Security Council, Ivanov said that his negotiations with Larijani mainly focused on bilateral issues.

"Negotiations between Larijani and Solana are currently going on in the context of the package of incentives presented by the Group 5+1 (five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany).

Larijani said both Russia and Iran agreed that 'solving the situation through negotiation is possible. We hope that Russia can help in this direction'.

Russia, which opposes sanctions against Iran, wants to continue work on building Iran's first nuclear power station at Bushehr, in southern Iran.

Previous Stories:
  Iran nuclear plant operational in 2007   (9/27/2006)
  Russia should fill commitments on Bushehr power plant: Iran   (9/11/2006)
  Iranian official on need of completing Bushehr powerplant on time   (9/5/2006)

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