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UN's Annan Welcomes Russia-Iran Nuclear Talks

18 February 2006 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has welcomed upcoming talks between Iran and Russia on a proposal for Iranian uranium-enrichment work to be carried out on Russian territory.

Annan's spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said that as a permanent, veto-holding member of the UN Security Council, Russia is making a vital contribution to bringing all sides to the negotiating table.

The Iran-Russia talks are due to open in Moscow on 20 February. Under Russia's proposal, Iranian civilian uranium enrichment would be carried out in Russia, allaying suspicions that Iran seeks to divert nuclear material to build atomic weapons.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton on 17 February said he doubted Tehran would accept the Russian offer and accused Iran of seeking to delay possible Security Council action over its nuclear program.

"As a general proposition, a delay benefits the Iranians in two respects," Bolton said. "First, it allows them to increase the sophistication and extent of their knowledge about enrichment activities. And second, it gives them time to make use of the oil weapon, which they have with a number of countries that have a high and growing demand [for oil]."

Iran denies any efforts to make nuclear arms, saying its nuclear program is for peaceful electricity generation only.

(AFP, Reuters)

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org