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Russia says sanctions against Iran will rupture talks

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Moscow, Dec 13, IRNA
Iran-Russia-Baluyevsky
Chief of Russian General Staff Yuri Baluyevsky said on Wednesday that UN Security Council sanctions against Iran will bring talks on the country's nuclear program to a standstill.

Addressing a group of foreign military attaches, Baluyevsky said sanctions is an ineffective mechanism to solve issues, including Iran's nuclear problem.

He said in speaking about sanctions, one should look into their aftershocks and consequences.

"In taking about sanctions, we must clearly understand what further steps and their aftermath will be," the top military officer said.

He warned that if any sanctions are issued against Iran, there will be no possibility of resuming talks in near future and there will be the possibility for Tehran's completely breaking off cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"If such sanctions are introduced, opportunities to launch the negotiating process will be frozen for the near future.

"It is quite possible that in response Tehran will reduce, or completely stop cooperation with IAEA," Baluyevsky added.

"So, generally speaking, we shall be gradually driving both Iran, the Security Council into the corner."
He described Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's statements saying Israel is planning to get access to nuclear weapons as 'irresponsible'.

General Baluyevsky said on Wednesday, "This is the latest information -- a statement by esteemed Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert saying his country is planning to get access to nuclear weapons. How we should assess his statement? Of course, his statement is irresponsible."

He stressed that Russia would remain committed to its policy towards complying with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and universalizing it by admitting other states and 'primarily the countries we have information on carrying out nuclear programs'.

To this end, Baluyevsky expressed serious concern about the nuclear problem on the Korean Peninsula.

"Nuclear tests in North Korea caused huge damage on the WMD non- proliferation. Such step is fraught by a threat to peace, security and stability in the region," the Russian general said.

He expressed satisfaction with the fact that the latest diplomatic efforts to ease tension on North Korea's nuclear problem yield certain results. In particular, the US-North Korea accord to resume the six-party talks 'opens a unique opportunity of unblocking the situation on the Korean Peninsula', Baluyevsky pointed out.

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