RF, Iran FMs to discuss new Moscow initiative on Iran nuke issue.

MOSCOW, August 17 (Itar-Tass) - Moscow's proposal on reciprocal steps
for the settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue will be discussed in
Moscow on Wednesday by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Iranian
Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi.
The consultations are of particular importance, given that over the
past three years, the leaders of the Islamic Republic's diplomatic mission
have not visited Russia. Reassuring is the personality of Salehi whom the
Western media consider to be the best "negotiator" on the Iranian nuclear
dossier.
Earlier, Sergei Lavrov during his visit to Washington in July stated
that "in response to each individual step of Iran we believe it is
important to make a reciprocal step that envisages freezing and then - as
we move forward - also the reduction of the sanctions."
However, RF Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Russia so
far does not see the practical aspirations of Iran and the "sextet" to
give up excessive demands to each other. In particular, the western
countries expect that Iran will itself stop uranium enrichment, and the
Iranians - that the sanctions will be lifted and their right to enrichment
activities will be recognised. According to Ryabkov, "it will not happen
without reciprocal steps towards each other."
The diplomat noted that Russia has made great efforts to draw up a
scheme "in a state of deadlock of Iran's dialogue with the "sextet" that
would cause no outright rejection of Iran and the members of the group of
six mediators. "Russia proposed the so-called "Lavrov plan," which would
help further promote the dialogue. "The essence of this plan - is a phased
nature and reciprocity, so that the parties could proceed to the problem
settlement," the deputy minister said.
According to Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security
Council Saeed Jalili, "the Russian proposal could become the basis for the
resumption of talks between Iran and the Six," and the foreign minister's
visit will open a new stage in Russian-Iranian relations.
Another focus of the talks in Moscow will be the launch of the Bushehr
nuclear power plant. The parties are currently coordinating the date and
format of participants for the forthcoming ceremony, which is tentatively
scheduled for late August. Observers do not exclude that the problem of
the supply to Iran of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, which had
been "frozen" after the UN Security Council adopted sanctions against
Tehran in summer 2010, may be raised.
The ministers will also "coordinate the positions" on the situation in
Central Asia and Transcaucasia, the Caspian issues, settlement in
Afghanistan, the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, will touch
upon the prospects for expanding economic ties. Observers note that the
volume of bilateral trade between the two countries this year amounted to
3.65 billion US dollars.