Posted on 03/07/2006 5:03:48 PM PST by x5452
Posted on Tue, Mar. 07, 2006 Russia appears to remain united with U.S. on Iran nuclear issue By Jonathan S. Landay
WASHINGTON - Russia appeared Tuesday to close ranks with the United States and Europe over Iran's nuclear program, after briefly promoting a plan that would have allowed Iran to conduct small-scale uranium enrichment research, which the Bush administration strongly opposes.
The move indicated that Russia would join the United States and the European Union in sending the impasse over Iran's uranium enrichment program to the U.N. Security Council, which can impose economic and political sanctions.
Russia had faced stiff U.S. and European opposition to its plan to allow Iran to conduct small-scale uranium enrichment work in return for postponing an industrial-size effort for up to nine years. Iran has threatened to start such a large effort if the issue goes to the Security Council.
"There is no compromise new Russian proposal," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov asserted during a news conference with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice before a White House meeting with President Bush.
Enrichment produces low-enriched uranium for power plants and highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons.
The 35-nation board of the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency voted Feb. 4 to send the issue to the Security Council. But it agreed to allow a month for a diplomatic resolution at the suggestion of Russia and China, which have hefty financial interests in oil-rich Iran.
The board was expected to wrap up a meeting at IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on Wednesday without reconsidering its decision, clearing the way for Security Council deliberations.
U.S. and European officials are demanding that Tehran abandon all enrichment activities because of suspicions that Iran is secretly developing a nuclear arsenal, a charge Iranian officials deny.
Lavrov said consultations that Russia has held recently with Iranian, European, U.S., Chinese and U.N. officials concerned only a Russian plan to form a joint venture with Iran to produce low-enriched uranium fuel in Russia for shipment to power plants in Iran.
But a U.S. official and a diplomat close to the IAEA, both of whom requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said Russia had been informally promoting the compromise as a possible way to defuse the crisis.
"We haven't seen the presentation in writing," said the diplomat.
The U.S. official said Lavrov presented the idea to Rice at a dinner on Monday, but "disclaimed" that it was a Russian proposal.
Rice, he said, "made crystal clear" that the United States opposed such a plan, a stance she reiterated at the news conference.
"Enrichment ... on Iranian soil is not acceptable because of the proliferation risks," she said.
EU diplomats said France, Britain and Germany - which were spearheading negotiations with Iran - also opposed any plan that would allow Iran to conduct any enrichment work.
Iran insists it has the right to enrichment for peaceful purposes under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the basis of the global system to prevent the spread of nuclear arms.
The IAEA board of governors found that Iran had breached its treaty obligations by concealing its enrichment program for 18 years and failing to account for many activities, including purchases of weapons-related know-how from a Pakistani-led smuggling ring.
Vice President Dick Cheney warned Tuesday that the international community would "not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon" and "is prepared to impose meaningful consequences" on Tehran if it refuses to abandon its program.
"The United States is keeping all options on the table," Cheney told AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobbying group, in Washington.
Russia in consences with the US.... Give me a break!
Russia has a knack for "appearing" in many attitudes and persuasions.
Maybe it's that they are inveterate LIARS...and always have been.
The only people who trust Russians are dead ones.
Secretary Rice says they are an ally in the war on terror.
I beleive her.
Any country that shuts off the heat to Europe in the middle of record freezing temps can not be trusted.
Oh - did somebody say "market prices"?
What kind of market is it when they buy for $50, well to their own for $15, and to the west for $240?
Sounds like communism to me!
We all believe Sec, Rice.
She factually described our diplomatic relationship.
But everyone fully knows that our "allies" have consistently and repeatedly failed us. Russia,France,Germany and others,including China are major supporters of the nation states who are sponsoring the GWOT.
You mat have been "born at night"...let's hope it was'nt last night.
You are some kind of Russian agent.
I just went back and scrolled thru your recent commentary. You have "reams of comments" and replies(all related to things Russian) that have been posted just today! It's prodigious!
Then, I happened on your comment: "I have family in Russia from Irkutsk to Crimea. I am extremely informed about the Russian Federation."
Nice to know that Russia feels Freep is an important influence center.
All freepers have to do is double click on your screen name and proceed to "In Forum". Your comments,which are public, are there in chrono sequence.
Looks like Tom Daschle is gonna be saddened. Again.
Hah, sounds like a hollywood movie of the week. Why not follow it up with how cold winters are really global warming.
What a laugh, why not check out the sites that the anti-Russia folks post from on this forum.
Like spanlot, since he's posted on this thread.
He posts from Maidanua.
A site that defends the leader of Ukraine's Soros NGO, and bashes bush as a fascist.
Meanwhile I post Secretary of State Rice's informed opinion on Russia.
Guess that makes me an agent of Russia.
When our German and French allies were saying they'd prefer to work with Kerry Putin was saying how he'd vastly prefer to work with Bush.
When our French and German allies insisted Sadam was a pacifist not interest in Nukes, Putin gave evidence that Sadam was trying to buy them.
The Russian record is scads beyond the French or German record.
Comparing any them to China is insulting.
The Chinese are enemy number one, far worse than islam, being as we dont actually give up patents to pirates in order to deal with islamists.
Your various replies are most interesting and courteous in spite of my blundering comments. I appreciate your courtesy.
Your several points and comments appear well made and I thank you for them.
I look forward to seeing you here on a regular basis.
What kind of market is it when they buy for $50, well to their own for $15, and to the west for $240? ==
Russians own thier gas so pay only for delivery cost. West pays gas price and bigger delivery cost.
When West will own gas thenprobably price definition will be same.
Any country that shuts off the heat to Europe in the middle of record freezing temps can not be trusted. ==
Russia shutted up gas only to those who don't pay. Man it is market not charity. Are you looking for charity? Then go elsewhere.
Heck, in addition to stealing gas and reselling it at market prices to the EU, the Ukraine seldom if ever paid its gas bills to Russia when the price was $50.
Russia in consences with the US.... Give me a break!==
Russia do not need nukes in Iran. Russia just plays good cop:).
Ther are one difference so. Russia recognises the right of Iran for civilian nuclier energy. IMHO it is futile to refuse that right.
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