Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signaled possible "agreement on sanctions" against Iran over its nuclear activities after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at Meseberg Palace near Berlin.
Medvedev, who arrived in Germany on June 4, was meeting with Merkel to discuss international issues ranging from Russia's relations with the EU to the proposed new UN sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.
Reuters quoted Medvedev as saying that "the situation is such that an agreement on sanctions almost exists" even as he added that "nobody wants sanctions."
"We hope that the voice of the international community will be heard by the Iranian leadership," the Russian president said.
Merkel added, "It is possible that in the near future the sanctions can be approved by the UN Security Council," according to Reuters. "I am very happy that we can stand here together today and say this is a common position, including not only the European Union, the United States, and Russia, but also China."
"We have repeatedly said that we, of course, want to make positive and reasonable development possible for Iran," Merkel said. "We have always chosen this two-sided approach by making proposals on the one hand, but on the other hand, the time has now come when, if nothing substantially changes, sanctions will have to be adopted."
New Security Initiative
At their meeting, Merkel and Medvedev also proposed a new security committee to establish rules for joint civil and military crisis management by Russia and the European Union.
The German and Russian leaders told reporters that the first issue to be tackled could be the Transdniester conflict which has troubled Russia, Ukraine, Moldavia, and the EU for almost two decades.
compiled from agency reports
Medvedev, who arrived in Germany on June 4, was meeting with Merkel to discuss international issues ranging from Russia's relations with the EU to the proposed new UN sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program.
Reuters quoted Medvedev as saying that "the situation is such that an agreement on sanctions almost exists" even as he added that "nobody wants sanctions."
"We hope that the voice of the international community will be heard by the Iranian leadership," the Russian president said.
Merkel added, "It is possible that in the near future the sanctions can be approved by the UN Security Council," according to Reuters. "I am very happy that we can stand here together today and say this is a common position, including not only the European Union, the United States, and Russia, but also China."
"We have repeatedly said that we, of course, want to make positive and reasonable development possible for Iran," Merkel said. "We have always chosen this two-sided approach by making proposals on the one hand, but on the other hand, the time has now come when, if nothing substantially changes, sanctions will have to be adopted."
New Security Initiative
At their meeting, Merkel and Medvedev also proposed a new security committee to establish rules for joint civil and military crisis management by Russia and the European Union.
The German and Russian leaders told reporters that the first issue to be tackled could be the Transdniester conflict which has troubled Russia, Ukraine, Moldavia, and the EU for almost two decades.
compiled from agency reports