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| Iran |
| Putin: Iran Ready for Nuclear Oversight |
| 2003-06-20 |
| EFL MOSCOW (AP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Iran was prepared to accept tight international oversight of its nuclear program. He also called for security guarantees to be given to North Korea to solve the deadlock over its nuclear activity. In his annual Kremlin news conference, Putin also said that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat must not be I hope this was for domestic consumption, he can't really be this dumb. Putin said Iranian President Mohammad Khatami had assured him in a telephone call two days ago that his country does not strive for nuclear weapons "Vladimir, don't worry, we saw in Iraq how well the IAEA worked. Of course we'll sign!" ``The Iranian leadership is ready to fully meet all the IAEA demands regarding control over its nuclear program,'' Putin said. On Thursday, the U.N. nuclear watchdog urged Iran to allow more inspections and to stop enriching nuclear fuel, but it rejected Washington's effort to bring the matter before the U.N. Security Council. Tehran insists its program is intended to produce electricity. Russia has an $800 million contract to build a nuclear power plant in Iran and insists U.S. fears that the project could help Tehran develop nuclear weapons are unfounded. Under U.S. pressure, Russia has urged Iran to open itself up to broader nuclear inspections, but it has not made fulfillment of the power plant contract contingent on Tehran's signing an additional IAEA protocol providing the U.N. organization with greater access. Putin warned against pressuring Russia to abandon the Bushehr contract, saying Russia was against ``using the nuclear card in unfair competition on the Iranian market.'' Translation from the original Russian: "We smell the meat a'cooking!" In response to a question from a South Korean journalist, Putin said President Bush did not favor using force against North Korea. ``As far as I know from my meetings with President Bush, he has no plans to solve the Korean nuclear problem militarily He said that the U.S. and Russian positions on the crisis were becoming closer but insisted that Pyongyang's Thanks Vlad, but we know how to handle a rabid dog. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #10 Don't no about you,but I shoot rabid dogs. |
| Posted by: raptor 2003-06-20 17:39:49 |
| #9 I think Bush is being polite with Putin because there is hope of improvement of relations with Russia. With France there is no hope of improvements with Chiraq around. There is a future in Russia with all kinds of things: minerals, energy, etc. With France it's Bhurkas. I can't think of anything else. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-06-20 16:10:05 |
| #8 i wonder if Gore's running mate (NOT Clinton) wound be allowed on the liberal network. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-06-20 16:01:11 |
| #7 NMM: Send your resume into Al Gore. Maybe he can find you a spot on his new Liberal Loser Radio Network. You can get him his ice tea during the breaks on his talk show... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-06-20 15:39:13 |
| #6 Not MM...are you SURE you're not? Perhaps you're just channeling? |
| Posted by: Hodadenon 2003-06-20 14:42:53 |
| #5 Hmm sounds like it's time to send in Condi, Rummy, and |
| Posted by: Not Mike Moore 2003-06-20 14:33:52 |
| #4 Iran has requested that the U.N. Oversight group be headed by one Hans Blix, with expert assistance by arms expert Scott Ritter. Mr. Khatami stated "My 13 year old daughter is a big fan of Mr. Ritter, she can't wait to meet him..." |
| Posted by: Hodadenon 2003-06-20 12:56:27 |
| #3 The Bush Admin's gentle handling of Putin amazes me. He met Dubya face to face and within 6 months was stabbing him (us) in the back in every venue available. I still think that, someday - now obviously post-Putin, the Russians and Americans could become great allies and friends (?) in a classic 'win-win' relationship... For the moment, however, I can't help but marvel at Dubya's approach to this snake. |
| Posted by: PD 2003-06-20 12:54:44 |
| #2 Iranian President Mohammad Khatami had assured him in a telephone call two days ago that his country does not strive for nuclear weapons and that it was prepared to sign protocols required by the International Atomic Energy Agency. A facility with oaths doesn't make anybody feel any better about you guys, Mo. Just a hint. |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-06-20 10:58:46 |
| #1 Iranian President Mohammad Khatami had assured him in a telephone call two days ago that his country does not strive for nuclear weapons and that it was prepared to sign protocols required by the International Atomic Energy Agency. A facility with oaths doesn't make anybody feel any better about you guys, Mo. Just a hint. |
| Posted by: mojo 6/20/2003 10:58:46 AM |