Spoetnik
28-04-05, 10:33
Katsav to Putin: Russia has obligation to fight anti-Semitism
By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
President Moshe Katsav told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday that Russia has a responsibility to fight growing anti-Semitism in the country, while both leaders said they were interested in further improving ties.
"I believe this official visit will be a milestone in the development of relations between us," Katsav said.
Speaking at the start of their meeting at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, Putin said in return that he wanted to cooperate more closely with Israel in fighting terror.
Advertisement
He emphasized the joint challenges facing Israel and Russia, primarily "the struggle against terrorism and extremism," as well as the need to continue the fight against anti-Semitism, xenophobia and lack of tolerance.
The Russian president commented on the fact that his visit falls 60 years after the victory over the Nazis. "The Nazi aggression did not break the spirit of our nations," he said. "Today it is right to remember that our liberty and our right to exist came at the hands of a struggle."
Putin arrived in Tel Aviv on Wednesday night in a landmark first visit to Israel by a Russian head of state. Katsav is the official host of the 40-hour visit.
The Russian leader was to spend the morning at the President's Residence, where he was to present a sculpture by a famous Georgian artist depicting concentration camp victims, and issue a joint declaration with Katsav.
On Thursday afternoon, Putin will meet Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for talks on a range of issues, as his trip swings into diplomatic high gear.
Apart from its historical significance, the state visit has been overshadowed by two diplomatic contretemps: an Israeli (and U.S.) rejection of his proposal for an international conference on the Middle East this fall, and Israeli objections to his plans to sell armored troop carriers to the Palestinian Authority and anti-aircraft missiles to Syria.
Sources in Jerusalem said Thursday that Putin's proposal for a conference went against agreements reached between Jerusalem and Moscow ahead of the Russian leader's visit.
The two countries had agreed that neither side would surprise the other with unprepared remarks, and Putin's proposal came as huge surprise to Israel.
Nevertheless, the sources said, Putin is known for spontaneity, and the conference proposal had apparently been a last minute decision which came in response to an Israeli invitation to visit the Western Wall.
During a luncheon for Putin on Thursday, Sharon will try to persuade his guest to cancel the missile sale, on the grounds they could filter through to one of the terror organizations based in Syria. Putin has said the missiles are meant to prevent low-flying aircraft from buzzing Syrian presidential palaces, a clear reference to Israel Air Force "messages" delivered to Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Putin's proposal for an international conference on the Middle East was raised in Cairo at his press conference with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and was immediately shot down by "government sources" in Israel and by White House spokesman Scott McClellan, who said, "We believe there will be an appropriate time for an international conference, but we are not at that stage now and I don't expect that we will be there by the fall."
Asaf Shariv, a top Sharon adviser, said the road map calls for a conference only in its "second phase," after the Palestinians have dismantled militant groups. "We are very far from that phase right now," he said. "I think it [the conference] is very premature."
A government source said Wednesday night that Israel would not allow into the country the troop carriers promised to the Palestinian Authority.
The source said that if Putin raises the issue of the armored carriers, he will be told that "now is not the time" and it would be best to postpone any further discussion of it.
Government sources in Jerusalem made clear that they would listen to Putin's proposal - which he said would be defined as a gathering of the Quartet (the U.S., Russia, EU and UN committee that is meant to shepherd the sides through the road map) - if he puts it to them Thursday.
But Israel's position is that the only political course is that laid out in the road map, and that the only foreign power Israel will allow to mediate between Israel and the Palestinians, is the U.S. The road map, said government sources, calls for an international conference in the second stage, but "first we have to execute the first stage, and that is our understanding with the U.S."
Despite those differences, Sharon and Putin will be able to reach understandings on the fight against anti-Semitism, cooperation in the war against terror, a natural gas purchase Israel is considering, space research, and commerce and investments. It is not clear if Putin, who surprised Israel and his own aides in March with the announcement he was going to Israel, will raise the issue of Jewish "oligarchs" residing in Israel whom he wants to see stand trial in Russia.
Putin will lunch with Sharon, Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, and spend the afternoon at Yad Vashem and meeting with the veterans. Thursday evening, Katsav is due to host a state dinner for his guest and entourage, which includes government ministers and Russian businessmen.
The Russian president is scheduled to leave the country Friday after a visit to Ramallah where he will meet with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who welcomed his proposed peace conference.
Putin will also pay his respects at the grave of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
He was said to be planning to announce the delivery of the armored troop carriers at that Ramallah meeting, but Israel's sudden opposition to the sale could sour that, unless Sharon changes his mind Thursday on the issue.
Despite security concerns, Putin visits Western Wall
Putin shrugged off Israeli security concerns and made a midnight visit to Jerusalem's Western Wall, the most sacred site of Jewish prayer, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.
Putin, whose appearances are usually surrounded by tight security, went to the site after visiting a Russian Christian pilgrimage center that was due to be his last public stop for the day.
"The security urged the president to avoid doing that, saying it was impossible to provide full security. But then they agreed to organize a trip to a site nearby from where he could view the Wall," a Kremlin spokesman said.
"There he met a rabbi and the rabbi gave him an album illustrating that part of Jerusalem."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/569830.html
Helaas heeft Sjaron geen zin in vredesbesprekingen.
By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
President Moshe Katsav told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday that Russia has a responsibility to fight growing anti-Semitism in the country, while both leaders said they were interested in further improving ties.
"I believe this official visit will be a milestone in the development of relations between us," Katsav said.
Speaking at the start of their meeting at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, Putin said in return that he wanted to cooperate more closely with Israel in fighting terror.
Advertisement
He emphasized the joint challenges facing Israel and Russia, primarily "the struggle against terrorism and extremism," as well as the need to continue the fight against anti-Semitism, xenophobia and lack of tolerance.
The Russian president commented on the fact that his visit falls 60 years after the victory over the Nazis. "The Nazi aggression did not break the spirit of our nations," he said. "Today it is right to remember that our liberty and our right to exist came at the hands of a struggle."
Putin arrived in Tel Aviv on Wednesday night in a landmark first visit to Israel by a Russian head of state. Katsav is the official host of the 40-hour visit.
The Russian leader was to spend the morning at the President's Residence, where he was to present a sculpture by a famous Georgian artist depicting concentration camp victims, and issue a joint declaration with Katsav.
On Thursday afternoon, Putin will meet Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for talks on a range of issues, as his trip swings into diplomatic high gear.
Apart from its historical significance, the state visit has been overshadowed by two diplomatic contretemps: an Israeli (and U.S.) rejection of his proposal for an international conference on the Middle East this fall, and Israeli objections to his plans to sell armored troop carriers to the Palestinian Authority and anti-aircraft missiles to Syria.
Sources in Jerusalem said Thursday that Putin's proposal for a conference went against agreements reached between Jerusalem and Moscow ahead of the Russian leader's visit.
The two countries had agreed that neither side would surprise the other with unprepared remarks, and Putin's proposal came as huge surprise to Israel.
Nevertheless, the sources said, Putin is known for spontaneity, and the conference proposal had apparently been a last minute decision which came in response to an Israeli invitation to visit the Western Wall.
During a luncheon for Putin on Thursday, Sharon will try to persuade his guest to cancel the missile sale, on the grounds they could filter through to one of the terror organizations based in Syria. Putin has said the missiles are meant to prevent low-flying aircraft from buzzing Syrian presidential palaces, a clear reference to Israel Air Force "messages" delivered to Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Putin's proposal for an international conference on the Middle East was raised in Cairo at his press conference with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and was immediately shot down by "government sources" in Israel and by White House spokesman Scott McClellan, who said, "We believe there will be an appropriate time for an international conference, but we are not at that stage now and I don't expect that we will be there by the fall."
Asaf Shariv, a top Sharon adviser, said the road map calls for a conference only in its "second phase," after the Palestinians have dismantled militant groups. "We are very far from that phase right now," he said. "I think it [the conference] is very premature."
A government source said Wednesday night that Israel would not allow into the country the troop carriers promised to the Palestinian Authority.
The source said that if Putin raises the issue of the armored carriers, he will be told that "now is not the time" and it would be best to postpone any further discussion of it.
Government sources in Jerusalem made clear that they would listen to Putin's proposal - which he said would be defined as a gathering of the Quartet (the U.S., Russia, EU and UN committee that is meant to shepherd the sides through the road map) - if he puts it to them Thursday.
But Israel's position is that the only political course is that laid out in the road map, and that the only foreign power Israel will allow to mediate between Israel and the Palestinians, is the U.S. The road map, said government sources, calls for an international conference in the second stage, but "first we have to execute the first stage, and that is our understanding with the U.S."
Despite those differences, Sharon and Putin will be able to reach understandings on the fight against anti-Semitism, cooperation in the war against terror, a natural gas purchase Israel is considering, space research, and commerce and investments. It is not clear if Putin, who surprised Israel and his own aides in March with the announcement he was going to Israel, will raise the issue of Jewish "oligarchs" residing in Israel whom he wants to see stand trial in Russia.
Putin will lunch with Sharon, Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, and spend the afternoon at Yad Vashem and meeting with the veterans. Thursday evening, Katsav is due to host a state dinner for his guest and entourage, which includes government ministers and Russian businessmen.
The Russian president is scheduled to leave the country Friday after a visit to Ramallah where he will meet with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who welcomed his proposed peace conference.
Putin will also pay his respects at the grave of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
He was said to be planning to announce the delivery of the armored troop carriers at that Ramallah meeting, but Israel's sudden opposition to the sale could sour that, unless Sharon changes his mind Thursday on the issue.
Despite security concerns, Putin visits Western Wall
Putin shrugged off Israeli security concerns and made a midnight visit to Jerusalem's Western Wall, the most sacred site of Jewish prayer, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.
Putin, whose appearances are usually surrounded by tight security, went to the site after visiting a Russian Christian pilgrimage center that was due to be his last public stop for the day.
"The security urged the president to avoid doing that, saying it was impossible to provide full security. But then they agreed to organize a trip to a site nearby from where he could view the Wall," a Kremlin spokesman said.
"There he met a rabbi and the rabbi gave him an album illustrating that part of Jerusalem."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/569830.html
Helaas heeft Sjaron geen zin in vredesbesprekingen.