BBC Monitoring Quotes From Russian Press Wednesday 25 January 2006
The following is a selection of quotes from articles published in the 18 January editions of Russian newspapers, as available to the BBC at 2300 gmt on 24 January.
Government paper notes silence about spy scandal
Rossiyskaya Gazeta [government newspaper] www.rg.ru – “No-one is in a hurry to throw the next stone. The exceptional spy scandal stalled, having only begun.
At least yesterday, from the representatives of the FSB [Federal Security Services], Prosecutor General’s Office and the Interior Ministry there was no commentary that would have added anything to the facts that had been made public about the case of espionage. As if nothing had happened.”
“In this situation all states of the world are trying to send the foreign spies off from their territory. This is always a strong argument and a trump card for any special services.”
“But here nothing seems to have happened. If it had not been for the rights activists themselves, yesterday would have treated the heated subject with silence.”
[from article by Timofey Borisov, headlined "Novel without a continuation"]
Foreign intelligence spokesman describes “spy” on footage as incompetent
Moskovskiy Komsomolets [mass-circulation Moscow daily; pro-mayor Yuriy Luzhkov] www.mk.ru – “The spy scandal involving British diplomats, which flared up this week, raised a number of questions. We tried to get answers from a professional – an employee of Russia’s foreign intelligence service.”
“The questions from Moskovskiy Komsomolets were answered by the head of the press bureau of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, Boris Labusov:”
“[Labusov:] ‘Judging by the footage shown on TV, the work of the British agent could be described as an example of how one should not behave during an operation. He was calmly walking past the stone but when he came close, he slowed down and as if stumbled. And then he turned his eyes towards the stone altogether. An experienced surveillance specialist would immediately pay attention to this kind of behaviour, even if it could seem accidental.’”
[from article credited to Oleg Fochkin, headlined "Mistake of a spy"]
LDPR leader compliments MI6
Gazeta [backed by Russian business interests and Western sponsors] www.gzt.ru – “Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Vladimir Zhirinovskiy [leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia] took the situation very close to his heart.
“[Zhirinovskiy, in the State Duma:] ‘Special services of the West, especially MI6, have always carried out sabotage work in the Soviet Union and in Russia, while MI6 is the most experienced and the most damaging of the special services,’ he said.
[from article by Anastasiya Matveyeva, headlined "Blowing cover for 100m pounds"
Iranian-Russian nuclear talks
Kommersant [business broadsheet; pro-businessman Boris Berezovskiy] www.kommersant.ru – “Secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council of National Security Ali Larijani yesterday arrived in Moscow on a working visit.”
“Yesterday’s talks, which discussed the details, were held behind closed doors. Nevertheless, according to sources of Kommersant, Tehran from the start made its possible agreement to take part in the project [of joint venture for uranium enrichment on Russian territory] dependent on a number of conditions, one of which is the requirement to retain the Iranian side’s right to continue scientific research in the nuclear sphere, including the possibility of uranium enrichment in small, ‘laboratory’ volumes in Iran itself. Tehran is also trying to achieve that Iranian specialists would have access to all technological processes at the joint venture if it is set up.”
“Bearing in mind these circumstances, Moscow and Tehran are aware that from the practical point of view it is unlikely that the idea of a joint venture for uranium enrichment could be implemented. Nevertheless the setting up of a joint venture could be used as a political tool against Iran’s nuclear dossier being handed over to the UN Security Council, as well as against harsh sanctions being imposed should the issue nevertheless end up in the Security Council. The arguments of Russian diplomacy will sound as follows: ‘The Iranians ‘almost agree’ to the joint venture and therefore, opportunities for political settlement to the crisis have not been exhausted”.
“It is noteworthy that as the date for the emergency session of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna is approaching, positions of Moscow and Washington in the Iranian issue are becoming increasingly different.
[from article by Sergey Strokan "Iranian nuclear crisis"]
Nezavisimaya Gazeta [Moscow daily aimed at liberal elite. Often critical of government. previously owned by Boris Berezovskiy.] www.ng.ru – “Tehran is not satisfied with everything in the Russian proposal, which could become a solution to the crisis. A high- ranking Iranian diplomat told a Nezavisimaya Gazeta correspondent that the delegation of Iran, which arrived in Moscow, did not intend so much to announce its own ideas as to listen to Russia’s concrete proposals. ‘So far we are indeed very interested in cooperation with the Russian Federation in the nuclear sphere, including in joint uranium enrichment. But everything will depend on the Russians. We are also considering alternative options of partnership in this area. For example, simultaneously with China and Russia or even with China and without Russia’, the source said.
[from article by Ivan Groshkov, headlined "Tehran is looking at Beijing. Iran is studying Chinese alternative in nuclear sphere]
Moskovskiy Komsomolets [mass-circulation Moscow daily; pro-mayor Yuriy Luzhkov] www.mk.ru – “True, two main trade partners of Iran – they are also members of the Security Council – are Russia and China. For the construction of the nuclear power plant in Iran, Russia should receive at least one billion dollars. There are also other projects of cooperation – from the spheres of oil and gas to military and space. And although in the event of imposing international sanctions these projects will be frozen for a long time, it is unlikely that Russia will prefer the unpredictable Iran to Europe and the United States.
“There is also China. Iran sells the bulk of its oil to China, which desperately needs it. It is China who is capable of vetoing a resolution by the Security Council.”
[from article by Mark Deych, headlined “The Iranian dossier. Waiting for the bomb”
Sources: as listed