Ha'aretz Daily - 10.01.2002

 

Ha'aretz Daily

Putin Praises Sharon For Ending Muqata Siege

By Yossi Melman

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday commended Israel for lifting the siege on the Muqata, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah. However a senior Russian official told Ha'aretz that Israel will have to take additional steps to open negotiations leading to a political settlement. 

Speaking during a photo opportunity with Sharon ahead of a meeting between the two leaders, Putin said he was aware the decision was not a simple one and had been made under domestic and international pressure. 

The Russian leader said he sees Israel as an important partner in the international war on terror, adding that he supports U.S. President George Bush's efforts in this matter. 

Sharon, who arrived in Russia Sunday evening, spent yesterday in Moscow in talks with Putin on bilateral and international issues. 

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov told Ha'aretz that despite the differences between Israel and Russia, Sharon's visit and meeting with Putin and Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov were good and effective in promoting the relations between the two states. 

Sharon and Putin's tete-a-tete took an hour and a half longer than scheduled, including an impromptu luncheon. Sources in Sharon's entourage said the meeting was good, but Russian sources stressed that it brought out differences of views and positions on a series of issues on the agenda. The private meeting, held with a translator, followed a 90-minute meeting in which Ivanov and other senior Russian officials, as well as Sharon's aides, took part. 

Sharon expressed Israel's concern about the nuclear reactor Russia is building in Iran, which would eventually enable the latter to obtain nuclear weapons. But the Russian president reiterated Russia's traditional position that the nuclear reactor was intended for peaceful purposes and to produce atomic energy. He added the reactor is under strict supervision of both Russia and the International Atomic Energy Agency. 

The two also discussed Iraq, another bone of contention between the two states. Putin explained to Sharon and Saltanov explained to Ha'aretz that Russia had initiated the diplomatic moves leading to yesterday's talks between Iraq's representatives and the UN's weapons inspectors. They discussed the conditions which would enable resuming the international weapons inspection over Iraq's non-conventional weapons and missile capabilities. 

Putin said Russia is in favor of continuing the use of diplomatic means to persuade Iraq to take back the arms inspectors. Sharon stressed that Israel does not want to be a part of this dispute and has no intention of intervening, but if attacked it will know how to defend itself. 

Sharon also raised the possibility that Russia would sell surface-to-air anti-aircraft missiles to Syria. Putin assured Sharon that Russia has no intention of doing so, in contrast to reports published in Israel. 

Sharon also raised Israel's concern over Lebanese pumping from the Wazzani River in south Lebanon, in violation of international law and the status quo vis-a-vis the water distribution in the region. He asked Putin to put pressure on Syria and through it, on Lebanon, to stop the construction work. 

Discussing the peace process with the Palestinians, Sharon commended Russia's contribution to the issue by taking part in the Quartet forum attempting to renew the peace negotiations. Sharon said Israel would make no concession regarding the security of its citizens. "The Jews have a small state overflowing with talent and there they have a right to defend themselves," Sharon said. 

Putin replied that the Jews have another state and unexpectedly invited Sharon to join him on a visit to Birobidzhan, a Jewish province established by the Soviet Union in 1934. Sharon agreed. Russian officials said no accurate data were available on the number of Jews in Birobidzhan, but noted it has recently increased.

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