Putin says: Russia continues cooperating with UN on Iran Nukes

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 10-11-2007 13:43

Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country will continue cooperating at the United Nations to settle Iran's nuclear issue. But Putin says there is no definitive evidence that Iran is seeking a weapons program.

After a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday, Putin said Russia has cooperated with its partners at the UN Security Council and will continue to do so.

Putin also said Iran must be encouraged to make its nuclear programme fully transparent, but pointed at the lack of definitive proof that Tehran was seeking to build atomic weapons.

Putin said, "We do not have proof indicating that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons programme. We do not have such objective data. That is why we proceed from an assumption that Iran has no such plans. But we are sharing our partners' concern about making all Iranian programmes absolutely transparent."

The Russian president will make his first visit to Iran early next week for a summit of Caspian Sea nations. Sarkozy, who is looking to crank up pressure on Iran, hopes Putin's trip will encourage Iran to meet international demands and be more cooperative.

Later in the day, Sarkozy and Putin attended a ceremony to unveil a monument dedicated to the French air squadron that fought on Russian territory during World War II.

Putin said the ceremony was a sign of the country's sincere gratitude to the Russian and French soldiers who fought, shoulder to shoulder, against Nazism.

Editor:Yang Jie