MOSCOW, April 9 (RIA Novosti) - The recent visit by Iran's first deputy interior minister to Russia was not a violation of a UN Security Council resolution restricting Iranian officials' movement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday.
General Baqer Zolqadr made a six-day visit to Russia that ended Monday.
Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said the delegation had discussed protection of land and maritime sections of state borders.
"This matter is of substantial interest to Russia, especially considering the priority of fighting trans-border crime, including terrorism and drug trafficking," he said.
Since Iran resumed uranium enrichment in January 2006, the country has been the focus of international concerns, as some Western countries, particularly the United States, suspect Tehran is pursuing a covert weapons program. But Tehran has consistently claimed it needs nuclear power for civilian power generation and is full entitled to its own nuclear program.
The UN Security Council voted unanimously last month to impose new sanctions against the Islamic Republic for its refusal to halt uranium enrichment.
UN Security Council Resolution 1747 freezes the foreign accounts of 13 companies and 15 individuals involved in uranium enrichment and missile development projects, imposes visa restrictions and bans arms exports from Iran. It also threatens new sanctions if Iran does not comply with it within 60 days, and urges the Islamic Republic to return to negotiations.
<http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=5415§ionid=351020101> Zolqadr: Russia visit successful Mon, 09 Apr 2007 09:41:31 Upon arrival in Tehran early Monday, Deputy Minister of Interior for Security Affairs said his week-long visit to Russia was positive.
Brigadier General Mohammad-Baqer Zolqadr said the Iranian people would soon witness the practical results of the trip.
"Following an invitation extended by Russia's Federal Border Guard Service, a delegation comprising representatives from Iran's Interior Ministry, Islamic Republic of Iran Police and the Iran Border Guard Organization traveled to Russia," he said.
Zolqadr said the negotiations went well and resulted in signing an agreement on border security and natural disaster preparedness.
"Given that Russia possesses the longest land and marine borders (in the world) and has gained valuable experience in border control, we negotiated conditions for the transfer of Russian experience to the Iranian border guards--with particular consideration given to Iran's strategic maritime border with Russia on the Caspian Sea," he noted.
Pointing to Russia's Ministry of Extraordinary Situations, Zolqadr said, "Another issue discussed with the Russians was the possibility of utilizing their experience in dealing with natural disasters."
Zolqadr observed that the visit provides further proof that Security Council Resolution 1747 against Iran is ineffective.
"The resolution anticipates restrictions on foreign visits by certain Iranian officials particularly members of the Islamic Republic of Iran Guards Corps including me. However, I encountered no such restrictions in my trip and was warmly received by the Russian authorities. Russia happens to be one of the primary signatories to the Security Council Resolution."
BGH/HAR
<http://en.rian.ru/world/20070409/63369202.html> Talks on Bushehr NPP to continue until April 13 - official - 1 19:54 | 09/ 04/ 2007 (adds paragraphs 7-8)
MOSCOW, April 9 (RIA Novosti) - A current round of negotiations on the construction of Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant to break a stalemate over the project's financing will continue until April 13, Atomstroyexport said Monday.
"A Russian delegation, led by Vladimir Pavlov, the Atomstroyexport official in charge of the Iranian project, is currently discussing the technical aspects of construction at the Bushehr site, while another delegation is conducting talks on the future financing of the project by Iran in Tehran," a company spokesman said. -- Yoshie