Putin+hits+out+at+Comrade+Wolf+in+Washington+The+Guardian

The Guardian, London, Wednesday May 10, 2006
=Putin hits out at Washington as Iran dispute intensifies=


 * Staff and agencies**

The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, today compared the US to a wolf who "eats without listening" as a public spat between the two countries on the best way to deal with Iran intensified.

Washington and Moscow are split on the appropriate action to take against Iran following the announcement last month from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that the country had mastered uranium enrichment.

Russia has made clear that it agrees Iran should not have nuclear weapons but questions whether the country is actively seeking a bomb and whether sanctions would be effective.

Responding for the first time to accusations last week by the US vice-president, Dick Cheney, that Moscow had rolled back democracy, Mr Putin said: "Where is all this pathos about protecting human rights and democracy when it comes to the need to pursue their own interests?

"Here, it seems, everything is allowed; there are no restrictions whatsoever. We are aware what is going on in the world. Comrade wolf knows whom to eat, he eats without listening, and he's clearly not going to listen to anyone."

In an apparent reference to suspicions that the US is planning military action against Iran, Mr Putin added: "Methods of force rarely give the desired result, and often their consequences are even more terrible than the original threat."

Iran is under pressure from the US and the EU to rein in its nuclear programme. Iran insists the project is for peaceful purposes, but some countries fear its aim is to develop weapons.

Mr Ahmadinejad today called western governments' concern over his nuclear programme a "big lie". Speaking on a visit to Indonesia, the Iranian leader said the countries that criticised Iran's nuclear project were themselves involved in nuclear activities that were "expanding day by day".

"They test the new brands of weapons of mass destruction every day. Big powers pretend [they] are concerned, but it's a big lie," he said.

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, has offered to help mediate in the dispute over Iran's nuclear aspirations. "We can cooperate well in reducing the tension and move toward continuing talks and negotiations," said the Indonesian president, Susilo Yudhoyono.

A spokesman for the Indonesian government said Tehran had been "very receptive" to its offer. Jusuf Kalla, vice-president of Indonesia, told reporters after meeting Mr Ahmadinejad that Indonesia supported nuclear programmes for peaceful use.

The official purpose of Mr Ahmadinejad's visit to Jakarta is the development of closer economic ties. Iran is in the process of investing billions of dollars in the Indonesian oil and gas sector. Both nations are members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and are keen to boost trade with one another.

The US has pushed for international action on Iran and, with China and Russia, has authorised Britain, France and Germany to draw up a plan to persuade its government to relinquish its nuclear enrichment programme.


 * From: http://www.guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,,1771914,00.html**

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