RUSSIA: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets U.N. Secretray General designate Ban Ki-Moon

In a meeting with U.N. Secretary General designate Ban Ki-Moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on the international community to negotiate with Iran over its nuclear programme and not isolate it on Wednesday (November 1). "The EU draft resolution goes far beyond the framework of the agreements,'' said Lavrov. ``The measures which are currently in place aim to isolate Iran from the external world, as well as to isolate people who are called to negotiate on its nuclear programme. We already have set forth strong conditions, and it's negotiations which we want. There's no need to make a new resolution on the Iranian nuclear issue.'' Lavrov said Moscow would not support the draft U.N. sanctions resolution on Iran proposed by European states, and Russian was "firmly determined" to help establish dialogue with Iran. United Nations General Secretary designate Ban Ki Moon took the opportunity to outline the top issues on his agenda as he begins his time as head of the world organisation. "There are many important tasks before me as the new UN General Secretary,'' said Ban Ki Moon. ``These include reforming the organisation, the North Korean nuclear programme, the Iranian nuclear programme, Darfur, economic development, problems in Afghanistan, and other regional conflicts. I need to take on these issues and I should act as a mediator," he said.

ITN Source | November 2, 2006

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