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Olmert: Russia understands Iran threat
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Putin: Made efforts to help Shalit
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Olmert favors non-party president

Two days after police recommend indicting Katsav, prime minister reveals he would prefer non-affiliated ‘state candidate’ to replace president. Olmert talks to press upon landing in Moscow to meet Putin; leaders to discuss preventing Iran nuclear armament

MOSCOW - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert landed in Moscow Tuesday afternoon ahead of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Aside from Putin, Olmert will meet with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, as well as with Jewish community leaders and Russian parents of soldiers serving in the IDF.

 

A moment before landing in the Russian capital, the prime minister spoke with reporters on the dangers of Iranian nuclear armament, which he plans to discuss with the Russian leader.

 

“I am coming to Russia without thinking in terms of sanctions, but in terms of preventing Iranian nuclear armament,” Olmert said. He further added that he assumes Russia understands that Iran poses an existential threat, and is therefore also opposed to them obtaining nuclear weapons.

 

According to the prime minister, Putin was greatly involved in efforts to obtain the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, and even sent a special envoy to Damascus to speak with Syrian President Bashar Assad and send a message through him to Hamas and Khaled Mashaal not to harm the soldier in any way.

 

Olmert: Non-affiliated president

Regarding the affair involving President Moshe Katsav, Olmert noted that it would not be respectable for a prime minister to comment on the issue before Moshe Katsav finishes his term.

 

Olmert did not rule out, however, the possibility of Reuven Rivlin as a candidate to replace Katsav. However, he noted that he favored an independent presidential candidate who was not affiliated with any particular political party.

 

Regarding the possibility that Israel Our Home Chairman Avigdor Lieberman would join the coalition, Olmert said he discussed the issue with him. However, there still exist disagreements between the two, he noted, for example regarding the question of civil marriage. “We decided we would meet again for further discussions,” Olmert said.

 

Russian weapons

Olmert also addressed the issue of Russian-manufactured weapons being smuggled to Hizbullah, and said that in the past Putin had made multiple promises that Israel would not be hurt by Russia. However, Putin added that Russia was obliged to continue supplying defense weapons to Syria.

 

Olmert's meeting with Putin is expected to be held in a friendly atmosphere, despite Israeli claims that Hizbullah used Russian-made arms during its 34-day confrontation with the Israeli army.

 

Moscow said it would tighten arms sales to countries in the Middle East and impose stricter controls on arms sales.

 

Olmert aides said the prime minister will bank on Israel's flourishing relations with Moscow to press Putin to freeze nuclear cooperation with Tehran.

 

Russia on the other hand will press for a more active role in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian problem and for improved trade relations with Israel.

 

Aides said Moscow is keen on importing Israeli agricultural expertise, defense and other technologies.

 


פרסום ראשון: 10.17.06, 18:00
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