Nuclear Program is Key issue as Israeli Leader Visits Moscow
Bill Gasperini
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who is on
a two-day official visit to Moscow, is expected to urge or is urging Russian
President Vladimir Putin to keep up the pressure on Iran over its nuclear
program.
Israeli officials say Russia's help in building a nuclear power plant
in Iran tops the agenda of talks between Prime Minister Sharon and Russian
President Vladimir Putin.
Israel wants Russia to halt work on the plant, or
at least insist that Tehran（德黑兰）allow
United Nations' inspection of its nuclear facilities.
Iran recently announced that it would allow closer
inspections, and claims it has nothing to fear because its nuclear program
is only for peaceful purposes.
A senior Iranian official was due to arrive in Moscow
Monday, where he was expected to announce when Iran would sign the additional
protocol（草案，协议）to the Nuclear
Non-proliferation Treaty（核不扩散条约）that would obligate Tehran to
open its nuclear facilities to unannounced inspections.
But the visit by the head of the Iranian Security
Council, Hasan Ruhani, was abruptly canceled without explanation.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon also wants Russia
to withdraw its proposal to have the United Nations formally adopt the
so-called road map for peace. Russia, which is one of the authors of
the road map, introduced such a resolution in the U.N. Security Council
last week.
Israel objects on the grounds that a formal resolution
would put pressure on Israel without guarantees the Palestinians would
have to reciprocate. The United States also disagrees with Russia's
decision to introduce the resolution.
The road map was drawn up by the United States, the
European Union, Russia and the United Nations. But it has not made much
progress in halting violence in the Middle East.
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