Europe should not become “powder-keg” - Putin

Notes from Russia is trying to get a hold of a complete transcript of Putin’s remarks on missile defense which were made today. If available in English, we will post them below. If in Russian, a translation will be provided.

MOSCOW. May 29 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has cautioned against turning Europe into a “powder keg”, referring to Washington’s plans to deploy elements of its missile defense system in Europe. “We consider it harmful and dangerous to turn Europe into a “powder keg” and to fill it with new kinds of weapons,” Putin told a news conference after talks with the Portuguese prime minister in Moscow. “It creates new unneeded risks for the entire system of international and European relations,” he said.

http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=11757136

UPDATE: The comments came in a press conference between the Portuguese Prime Minister and Mr. Putin. Below you will find a Kremlin press release on the meeting. Apparently, a complete transcript of the meeting will be provided on kremlin.ru. When that is, we will post it as well. The particular comments are near the end of the press release and are bolded.

Press Statement Following Talks with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates

May 29, 2007
The Kremlin, Moscow Printer-Friendly Version

PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN: Good afternoon dear ladies and gentlemen!

I am glad to be able to welcome the Prime Minister of Portugal, Mr Socrates, to Moscow. Mr Prime Minister has already visited Russia: he took part in the events commemorating the 60th anniversary of the victory over fascism. However, this is the first official visit Mr Socrates has made to Russia.

 

Interview: The Ambassador of Iran to the Russian Federation: “The US wants to save the face of Israel”

This is an interview which was given by the ambassador of Iran in Moscow to Nezavisimaya Gazeta late last year. Most of the ambassador’s comments are not surprising. In the  first half of the article he states his government’s support for the Lebanese resistance and also outlines Tehran’s future intentions in regards to the enrichment of uranium. 

Towards the end of the article, the ambassador turns to commenting upon the Russian-Iranian relationship. His remarks are incredibly positive—even after correcting for diplomatic speak. Nowhere does he hint at any difficulty, but on the contrary, notes the countries’ parallel interests and the role of Russia as a force for “good” in international relations.

Golamriza Ansari – the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Russian Federation In an exclusive interview by Novaya Gazeta, the Ambassador of Iran in Moscow Golamriza Ansari comments on the situation surrounding the Lebanon-Israel conflict and the position of Tehran regarding the nuclear program of the country. 

Mr. Ambassador, how do you evaluate the situation surrounding the Lebanese-Israel conflict? The current events in the Near East testify about the formation of a new conception about the situation in the region. It comes down to the  fact that the Zionist regime can no longer continue its existence on the basis of those principles, by which it has been guided in the resolution of regional problems up until this time. The Lebanese resistance has broken the confidence of this regime in its invincibility.  The USA and other states  which support Israel should recognize this reality. Further resistance to the Zionists will cost these countries very dearly, including large financial expenditures. Moreover, Israel is becoming a source of hatred for the
USA and the Lebanese-Israeli conflict only exacerbates these sentiments. Several observers consider that the crisis in the Near East has an immediate relation to the crisis surrounding the nuclear program of Iran. How do you comment on this? In my opinion, a direct connection does not exist. Nuclear policy – is a completely independent and open policy of Iran. Nevertheless, it does not exclude the fact that among the goals, which Israel stood before itself, was the rendering of influence on the nuclear program of the Islamic republic. Undoubtedly, the Israelis prepared the plan for the attack on Lebanon beforehand, and searched for a suitable cause. It is possible that Israel selected even the time for the attack especially, in order to influence the events, which are occurring around the nuclear dossier. But it is obvious that the Zionists have not achieved anything.