22 May 2004 15:42
Russia not swayed by US claims - Iranian radio commentary
Text of commentary by Iranian radio on 22 May
[Presenter] Bush's security adviser and American Undersecretary of State for Arms Control John Bolton paid a
visit to Moscow in the past few days. The two met Russian officials and discussed the Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT],
Iran's cooperation with Russia and the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA].
Apparently, like previous visits of American officials to Moscow, the trips did not bear any results for American
officials, and John Bolton, in order to cover up his failure in Moscow, claimed that Russia and America shared similar
stances with respect to taking Iran's nuclear case to the Security Council. The Russian Foreign Ministry denied
John Bolton's statements this morning.
Mr Fathi, an expert at the news analysis desk, who has studied Iran's cooperation with the IAEA and follows the
atomic energy cooperation of the two countries [i.e. Iran and Russia] has analysed America's goals in spreading
such false reports.
[Mr Fathi - recording] America is following two objectives by sending its diplomats to Russia. The first one is to
take Iran's nuclear IAEA dossier to the Security Council and the second one is to disrupt Iran-Russia cooperation
in the atomic energy sector. And the results of Rice and John Bolton's trips to Russia showed that they too did not
achieve their goals, like other American diplomats in the previous Clinton Administration during which Al Gore and
Chernomyrdin held meetings.
This is because the Russians know that America's claims about Iran developing nuclear weapons are false. And
they have never accepted the political claims of American officials and their call for bilateral cooperation either in
the past or at the present time.
[Presenter] What are Russia's policies toward atomic cooperation with Iran and the process of constructing a
[nuclear] power plant? Do the Russians want to continue and deepen cooperation with Iran? Mr Fathi:
[Fathi - recording] Although Iran-Russia nuclear cooperation has slowed down in the past few years and despite the
fact that diplomatic trips of American officials to Moscow and their false claims have hampered the ties between Iran
and Russia, we can still see a stability in the Russian stance regarding its cooperation with the Islamic Republic of
Iran.
Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the friendly and close ties between the two countries during the most
recent trip of Mr [Kamal] Kharrazi [the Iranian foreign minister] to the country. Putin said that Russia's foreign
policy was based on expanding relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Russian foreign minister, too, suggested
that Iran-Russia cooperation should be expanded in different political, economical and military aspects. The two sides
also underlined that the two countries were willing to cooperate on the construction of new power plants once the
Bushehr power plant is completed. And it seems like the two countries are to sign an agreement to pave the way for
nuclear waste returns for the power plants.
Russia's close bilateral nuclear cooperation with Islamic Republic of Iran is of particular importance, since it
displays the country's independence in foreign and trade policies. Also it is important for Russia's
international prestige and credit, and the Russians are willing to continue this policy.
[Presenter] We asked Mr Fathi: Considering the diplomatic efforts of Washington and the failure of American diplomats
in Moscow, what are the prospects of Iran's nuclear case in the upcoming IAEA summit?
[Fathi - recording] If the IAEA summit considers the technical and scientific aspects of Iran's case and avoids
politicizing the case, we have high hopes that the case will be closed. But everyone knows that American officials have
been trying to change international public opinion in the past few days or weeks, just as they did in previous summits.
By levelling different charges against Iran, they are preparing the grounds for sending Iran's case to the Security
Council. And in the very first reaction, Russian officials rejected this request of America. And other countries,
including European countries and the Non-Aligned Movement states present at the IAEA Board of Governors, are against
this proposal of Washington too.
Therefore, there is the possibility that this issue will be raised in future summits of the IAEA or the Board of
Governors to make an additional study of Iran's cooperation with the IAEA.
[Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran] |
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