(Prime Minister's Media Adviser/IMRA) Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met Thursday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Jerusalem. Sharon said an international conference would be held at the beginning of the second stage of the Roadmap and not before. Putin said that Russia's intention was to propose a professional meeting at the level of experts in order to advance the diplomatic process in the region; in any case, no kind of forum would be convened without Israel's assent. Putin said that it would only be in coordination and agreement with Israel that Russia would assist the Palestinian security forces to fight terrorism more efficiently. Putin emphasized that a nuclear Iran frightens Russia as much as it frightens Israel and said that Russia would not help Iran achieve a nuclear bomb. He added that on the Iranian issue, Russia was Israel's ally and called for cooperation in order to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power. Putin said the terrorist organizations must receive no concessions and must be shown no weakness. He stressed that Russia was Israel's strategic ally.
2005-04-29 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive