Moscow not to press Iran

United States are ready to give up plans of setting up missile defense (PRO) in Europe and the receipt of Ukraine in NATO if Russia joins Western countries in their efforts to disarm Iran and if it is actively involved in military operations in Afghanistan. Moscow is not ready, "said Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, last night at a meeting Valdajskog club.

International discussion club "Valdaj" is an annual conference where leading experts, political scientists and journalists from abroad, and Russia, which specializes Russian politics, economy and culture, talk about it with the President, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia. It is not the practice to report from these meetings, but the present is usually tell what was discussed.

Impressions of the talks with Lavrov, the media has conveyed Alexander Rahr, president of the German Society for Foreign Policy. He is an American request to Moscow formulated words: "Give, razoružajte Iran and fight with us against the Taliban in Afghanistan."

Answer Moscow, Rahr said, was very sharp, "You've made that mistake, you have to correct them," said Lavrov, adding: "I do not think you will approve the sanctions the UN Security Council," which actually means to Russia will block them.

Chairman of the club sessions Valdajskog Sergei Karaganov also claims that the issue of PRO can be considered resolved: "That is our common victory because the PRO, as conceived, was disabled and only contributed to the intensification of relations in Europe." After discussions Valdajskom club clearly is that the US-Russian relations can be seen "imbalance of understanding," said Karaganov.

"Reset button is not pressed. Each side is waiting to weaken the position of partner due to the global economic crisis, "he and Rar. He added that the same happens in Russia's relations with European countries. Although Russian President Medvedev proposed to make the new concept of European security, even in June 2008, during a visit to Berlin, and although after the war with Georgia need to do most recognized member of the EU, has been done almost nothing.

"My colleagues have expressed a general opinion - The European Union is not ready to lead the new negotiations. At the beginning of this century, Russia was on the rise, and now all interested in how strong they emerge from the economic crisis. For now, Europe can not understand why you should spoil the umbrella of security that are created by NATO and the EU and smišljati a new structure. "