By Vestnik Kavkaza
Yesterday in Moscow, Vladimir Putin negotiated with the Premier of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. The agenda included bilateral relations and the situation over the nuclear program of Iran. Simultaneously, the next round of talks on the topic began in Geneva.
Putin was laconic in his statement for journalists after the talks with Netanyahu: “We talked to Mr. Prime Minister on problems of the Iranian nuclear program. We expect that in the near future mutually beneficial decisions will be made. Consultations between “5+1” and Iran confirm that we have such an opportunity; Russia is optimistic about negotiations with Iran. I hope the renewed talks in Geneva will be successful.”
Netanyahu explained Israeli’s position in details: “The biggest threat to our peace, security in Israel and the world is Iran’s attempts to create a nuclear bomb. We have a common goal – both of us are not interested in Iran’s possession of nuclear armament. Israel thinks that the international society should control fulfillment of the UN SC’s decitions, i.e. stop uranium enrichment, dismantle centrifuges, withdraw enriched material from Iran, and dismantle a reactor in Arak.
I think we should draw serious conclusions and learn from the decision made by countries on non-conventional weapon in Syria. As for Syria, Russia and other countries fairly insisted on the complete disarmament of Syria, concerning non-conventional weapon. I would like to express my appreciation of your actions in Syria. And it is confirmed by the fact that they are being fulfilled at the moment. I am sure the international society wouldn’t agree for a variant when only a part of chemical weapon is destroyed and a part remains, as well as an opportunity for Syria to create new chemical weapons.
The same question stays before the countries which discuss the Iranian issue in the Geneva conference. We believe that a better agreement can be achieved. And it demands insistence. I think it will be peaceful diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear problem, like it was achieved in Syria.”
Ahead of the visit by the Israeli Prime Minister to Moscow, Yevgeny Satanovsky, President of the Middle East Institute, and Dmitry Maryasis, the executive director of the Russian-Israeli business council under the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, spoke about their views on Israeli-Russian relations.
“A constant repetition of the fact that sanctions should be stiffened is pointless from the very beginning, I believe, because Iran cannot be stopped by sanctions,” Yevgeny Satanovsky is sure. “It’s pointless to speak about the bad consequences of a possible Geneva agreement. For whom will it be bad? For Saudi Arabia? For sure. For Israel? Of course. For Russia? I doubt it. The logic is simple: even if Iran has one or two nuclear bombs, 22 nuclear bombs, we have North Korea, for instance, nevertheless, we have more. And our capacities to destroy Iran are bigger than Iran’s capacities to destroy Russia. The approach is different.
There is speculation in the mass media over the fact that the Israeli authorities are seriously thinking about a military settlement of the problematic crisis with or without the agreement of the Saudis. In this case Russia should be informed at least, because it is the only state from “5+1” which has common borders with Iran. We have a border on the Caspian Sea.”
Speaking about the possibility of Russia’s mediation in settlement of the conflict, Satanovsky said: “Russia may manage to become a special mediator, as in the situation over Syria, and unfreeze Iranian-Israeli relations by some magic treaty on non-aggression, which could be signed virtually. Such a miracle is possible. However, I don’t think the talks will run in this format; probably the scheme will be standard – Iran will get a nuclear bomb, it is a problem of the whole world, so, we have to influence Iran. At the same time, the whole world says that it doesn’t care, just like ahead of the Second World War in Munich. A certain decision was made, it appeared to be wrong, and what can we do now?”
Dmitry Maryasis touched on other aspects of Russian-Israeli relations: “In early December, Moscow will welcome a session of the joint commission on trade and economic cooperation, its co-chairmen are the Russian vice-president Dvorkovich and the Israeli vice-premier, the foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman. At the moment, all the necessary documents are being prepared – in the sphere of economic cooperation and so on. And representatives of the commission will discuss the issues at a more professional level. At the same time, there are problems with gas, for example, which are very important for Israel and Russia, as it is the problem of major business.
The second question which is actively lobbied by the Israeli party, while Russia treats it neutrally, is the establishment of a free trade zone. This is an important moment for Israel, because it’s the Israeli method of working. Israel signs such treaties all over the world.”
