On Sharon's visit to Moscow
Israel-Russia, Politics, 4/13/1999

Israeli Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon has announced that his current visit to Israel had been decided several weeks ago and was agreed upon during Netanyahu's recent visit to Russia.

In a joint press conference he held on Monday in Moscow with his Russian counterpart, Igor Ivanov, following their talks, Sharon said discussions dealt with bilateral and economic relations and the issue of opening an Israeli consulate in Petersburg.

Sharon added, "We have also discussed the dangers resulting from transferring sensitive technology to Iran and we had agreed during the previous visit to form a joint committee to investigate in this matter and we today (Monday) continue discussions on this matter."

Sharon added that the talks also dealt with the issue of providing Syria with arms. He indicated that this very issue will be discussed during the forthcoming visit of Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov to Tel Aviv. Sharon expressed satisfaction over the development of relations with Russia, asserting that these relations will be greatly developed to establish peace in the world.

Ivanov for his part said that talks dealt with the possibility of passing the date of May 4 (possible declaration date for a Palestinian state) without troubles and that Russia is concerned to have an agreement to surpass this date and to give the Middle East peace settlement a new impetus.

He continued, "We talked in this issue with Arafat and Sharon," noting that in its capacity as one of the Middle East peace process cosponsors Russia is doing its best.

The Russian foreign minster added that he discussed with Sharon bilateral relations and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Russia gave "a new impulse for these relations and there are certain directions to develop these relations in compliance on serving the strategic interests of both Russia and Israel."

Sharon expressed Israel's interest in resuming peace negotiations with Israel. He said, "Israel will be happy if Russia will mediate for resuming the Israeli- Syrian dialogue."

Sharon announced that Ivanov will visit Israel in the near future.

Replying to questions posed by journalists, Sharon expressed the readiness of the Israel to support the initiative proclaimed by Moscow on convening a consultant meeting for the countries which signed the 1995 agreement on the provisional period over the Palestinian territories.

Sharon asserted that Israel is interested in resuming the Middle East peace process and is ready to take part in any activity in this regard. Sharon said Israel seeks to reach a peace settlement with Syria as well as achieving a settlement in Lebanon.

Previous Stories:
  Sharon arrives in Moscow   (4/12/1999)
  Sharon in Moscow tomorrow, his third visit in six months   (4/10/1999)
  Russia, Israel to establish a joint commission to monitor aid to Iran, Iraq   (3/23/1999)

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