MOSCOW — Israel's prime minister is meeting Monday with Russia's top officials in Moscow, where he is expected to push for support for strong international sanctions against Iran.
Russia has generally resisted new sanctions, but has shown increasing frustration over the past week as Iran proceeds with uranium enrichment despite international pressure. Critics say the enrichment is aimed at producing nuclear weapons.
Russian news agencies made no mention of Iran in reports of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's opening remarks at his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu told his Cabinet before leaving for Moscow that he would push for "crippling sanctions."
Israel is deeply worried about the Iranian nuclear program. Iran's Bushehr atomic energy plant was built by Russia, and the country has worked to keep strong ties with Iran despite concerns that the Bushehr plant would be a stepping stone toward nuclear weapons.
Russia has also caused concern in Israel with its contract to sell S-300 long-range air-defense missiles to Iran, which would significantly boost Iran's defense capability.
None of the missiles have been delivered, Russian officials say, although there have been no public explanations for the delay. Some observers suggest Russia is holding back on the missiles to persuade Iran to back off on its nuclear ambitions.
Netanyahu made a clandestine visit to Moscow in September after rumors emerged that a hijacked Russian freighter may have been secretly carry S-300s bound for Iran. No details of that visit have been released, although Medvedev later acknowledged it had taken place.
On Monday, Medvedev welcomed Netanyahu and said Russia regards Israel as more than an ordinary partner.
He also noted that 2010 marks the 65th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany and said "it's important not to allow interpretations of what went on at that time."
Russia in recent years has repeatedly taken offense at actions in some former Soviet republics that it regards as disrespectful to the Red Army's fight against the Nazis.
© 2010 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
|
