Barak to Russia: International action against Iran needed
In meeting with Russian Deputy FM Alexander Sultanov, defense minister calls for cooperation to 'promote various issues in the region'; tells Spain's Moratinos Israel pleased with efforts to block legal action against officials involved in Shehade assassination
Defense Minister Ehud Barak told visiting Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Sultanov on Thursday that vigorous international action is required to curtail Iran's nuclear program.
During the meeting Barak said Israel values Russia's role in the Middle East. "We will gladly join hands (with Russia), and, under the leadership of the United States, try to promote various regional issues.
"Israel's new government must find a way to deal with the security-related challenges and simultaneously work to achieve stability, calm and order in the region," he told Sultanov.
Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres, have suggested the Jewish state could use military force to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, as the West suspects it is doing.
On Tuesday Iran demanded that the UN Security Council respond firmly to what it described as Israel's "unlawful and insolent threats."
Iran insists it is only interested in building reactors that peacefully generate electricity. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has said Israel should be "wiped off the map," has vowed to continue his country's nuclear program.
Barak later met with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos and expressed Israel's content with Madrid's appeal to the Spanish court authorities, aimed at halting the legal proceedings pending against Israeli officials involved in the 2002 assassination of Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades operative Salah Shehade.
The two also discussed the Mideast peace process.
Barak is expected to meet with special US envoy George Mitchell later in the day.
