Transcript of Replies to Media Questions by Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov Following Third Ministerial Meeting of the Forum for the Future, Dead Sea, Jordan, December 1, 2006

Unofficial translation from Russian

Question:  The Russian side is nevertheless against the punishment of Iran and the imposition of sanctions against it?  Do you believe that Iran, which is a strong regional player, can influence the establishment of stability in the Middle East?

Foreign Minister Lavrov:  We are against punishing Iran.  We thus agreed within the Six.  We consented that Iran needed to work with the IAEA.  When, however, this question was handed over to the UN Security Council, it was done only for this purpose, not to punish Iran.  This is a very clear-cut agreement reached by the six international mediators.  But we are not against sanctions against Iran.  The draft now being discussed in the UN Security Council and by the six international mediators, which has initiated it, does envisage sanctions under Article 41 of the Charter of the United Nations.  We ought to concentrate in the UN Security Council on banning supplies to Iran of technologies, materials, and services pertaining to the IAEA's scope of activity.  That's what we agreed on.  We are categorically against any violations of the nonproliferation regime.  Russia intends to adhere to this scenario.

As to regional stability in broader terms, we are convinced that Iran has the potential to make a contribution to solving regional problems.  This potential should be activated through involvement and inclusion, not through isolation and opposition.  It was obvious during the talks in bilateral formats.  The need for a comprehensive approach towards tackling regional problems is becoming increasingly understood.  It must include all the influential players on equal rights.  Hopefully this approach will very soon be applied.

Question:  What is the position of Russia concerning the recent initiative of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, in particular regarding the statement that Jerusalem should be the sole capital of Israel and also that Palestinian refugees cannot return to their Homeland?

Foreign Minister Lavrov:  Our approach to settlement in the Middle East, in particular to Palestinian-Israeli settlement rests on international law, on the relevant United Nations resolutions and on the Roadmap, which has been approved by the UN Security Council and thus also become a part of international legality.  In accordance with the Roadmap, the status of Jerusalem, the refugees as well as final demarcation are to be agreed upon at the very concluding stage of settlement.  That's what we're proceeding from.

Question:  Did you discuss the problem of Iran during your meetings in Jordan?  Are any changes observed in the positions of your colleagues?  Meaning not only the nuclear program of Iran, but also its participation in the settlement of regional crises?

Foreign Minister Lavrov:  Yes, we discussed this problem in the course of today's and yesterday's meetings with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, with British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett and with my counterpart from Germany, Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeyer.  In the course of these meetings, especially with US Secretary of State Rice, I expressed my surprise that almost two weeks had already passed with our partners in the Six not responding to the proposal of France to hold the next meeting of the political directors of the foreign affairs agencies to continue the work on the draft resolution on Iran.  Our French colleagues made that suggestion quite a while ago.  Russia immediately responded favorably to it.

But after my contacts here the situation has changed.  Rice and Beckett and our German colleague assured me that now they agree to that meeting.  We expect that it will take place at the start of next week.

Question:  Your assessment of the present situation in Iraq?

Foreign Minister Lavrov:  We are convinced that the key to settlement in Iraq lies in national consensus, in the start of a real national dialogue and in advance towards national reconciliation.  Therefore we at once vigorously backed up the initiative of the Iraqi Prime Minister on national consensus, which he put forward quite a while ago.  To our enormous regret, so far no progress in the realization of this initiative in practice has been observed.  I think that a factor of collective efforts again comes into play in this regard.  Iraq's neighbors, Arab countries, the LAS, OIC and the members of the UN Security Council - all these influential international players can, of course, help induce the appropriate Iraqi political, ethnic and religious groups to join in the process of national reconciliation.  I think that the idea remains relevant in this context that Russia has voiced: holding an international forum with a view to helping the Iraqis realize their own plans for national reconciliation.

December 3, 2006