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Olmert urges halt of Russia-Iran arms deal

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (R) shakes hands with Israel's President Shimon Peres at his residence after Olmert submitted his resignation in Jerusalem on September 21, 2008. Olmert resigned over corruption charges. (UPI Photo/Avi Ohayon/GPO)
Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (R) shakes hands with Israel's President Shimon Peres at his residence after Olmert submitted his resignation in Jerusalem on September 21, 2008. Olmert resigned over corruption charges. (UPI Photo/Avi Ohayon/GPO) | License Photo

MOSCOW, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met Tuesday for one-on-one talks in Moscow.

Analysts said they expected Olmert to urge Russia not to sell advanced anti-aircraft systems to Iran, The Moscow Times reported. Olmert arrived in Moscow Monday after saying Sunday at an Israeli Cabinet meeting that he would urge Russia to halt arms sales to "irresponsible elements."

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Medvedev said Tuesday that he told Olmert his country will continue "to play a constructive role in the Middle East," the Novosti news agency reported. He also thanked Olmert for returning the Sergei Courtyard, built in the 19th century as a resting place for Russian pilgrims to Jerusalem, to Russian ownership.

Russian defense analysts told the newspaper they believe Olmert was referring to a possible sale of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran. The meeting comes after the Kremlin released a statement Monday saying Medvedev and Olmert would "exchange opinions" on terrorism and arms proliferation.

The possibility of anti-aircraft missile sale to Iran was raised last month in South Africa when Anatoly Isaikin, director of Russian arms export agency Rosoboronexport, said his country was negotiating with Iran on such a sale, the newspaper said.

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Konstanin Makiyenko, a researcher with the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, told the Moscow Times Isaikin's comments may have been a warning to Israel after it allegedly sold weapons to Georgia and trained Georgian commandos.

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