The Russian press reflects growing Middle Eastern concerns, writes Mona Khalil As the crisis around Iran's nuclear programme continues, Russia and China -- both of which have crucial projects in Iran -- have naturally taken a much milder position to the United States and the so-called "Troika" representing EU countries (Germany, France and Britain). The Russian press continues to attach a great deal of importance to the situation given Moscow's own strategic interests and its prestige in the international arena. The daily Kommersant notes that Tehran's delay tactics endangers not only Iran, but Russia and China too. Sanctions are already being discussed in Washington: at the US Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs a special resolution proposing the prohibition of armament sales to Iran has been prepared. The resolution stresses that the Russian government's decision to sell Iran armament at $1 billion -- mainly 29 anti-missile systems -- is likely to harm US-Russian relations. According to the newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Russia has proposed setting up a joint venture on uranium enrichment with Iran and China on Russian territory in an attempt to break the deadlock. The edition stressed that fuel processed under Russia's control for atomic power stations would cost Iran less. Yet such a perspective doesn't seem to thrill Tehran. Nezavisimaya Gazeta quotes a report by International Atomic Energy Agency Deputy Chief Olli Heinonen, which claims that Iran has purchased instructions for assembling components for nuclear arms on the black market. Commenting on the situation, state- owned Rossiyskaya Gazeta suggests that Tehran is convinced that the West will not dare to have an open conflict with "Ayatollahs regime", and that the nerves of US and EU leaders won't bear confrontation with the Islamic state. In all likelihood, Rossiyskaya Gazeta notes, Iranians are banking on a split in the UN Security Council, with Russia and China standing against escalation of conflict around the Iranian nuclear dossier. Writing in Trud newspaper, professor Vladimir Sazhin, an expert from the Institute of Oriental Studies, analysed the factors behind Tehran's geopolitical ambitions and "nuclear stubbornness". Given Iran's possession of both natural resources and territory for oil and gas transportation, Sazhin highlighted Iran's role as a dominating power in Western Asia. The Iranian issue has not been Moscow's only headache in the recent days. Gas scandals between Russia and its post-Soviet neighbours Ukraine and Georgia exploded in the first month of the new year 2006. After numerous warnings Moscow officials decided to realise their intention to increase gas prices. At an annual press conference President Vladimir Putin insisted that Russia's decision to switch to market price with its neighbours wasn't sudden: "we have long been talking about a transition to market prices." After a month of "gas war" a compromise was reached: Moscow and Kiev set up a joint-venture "Ukrgas-Energo" which, according to Kommersant, Russia has acquired half of Ukraine's retail gas market worth $4 billion and Ukraine received relatively cheap prices for half of its needed fuel. The daily Vremya Novostei reported that Georgian leader Mikhail Saakashvili has started purchasing gas from Iran, conjecturing that payment for Iranian gas was made from financial aid rendered to Tbilissi by Washington. During a recent meeting between Ukrainian State Security Secretary Anatoly Kinakh and Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli, it was agreed to consider import of oil and gas from Central Asian and Caspian Sea countries in order to decrease unilateral economic and political dependence of both states on Russia. The Internet edition Gazeta.ru highlights the conflict between Putin's ambitious aim to turn Russia into the world's energy leader, and Bush's desire to abolish energy dependence that threatens US dominance. Meanwhile, Russian news agency Ria Novosti came up with a forecast by economist of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol, that Russia would maintain first place in the world in gas export at least until 2020. After that Russia would be surpassed by the countries in the Middle East and Northern Africa. Hamas's victory in Palestinian parliamentary elections has also become a central issue in the Russian media, especially after President Putin announced his remarkable and totally unexpected decision to invite Hamas leaders to Moscow. During a visit to Spain, the Russian head stated: "it is necessary to acknowledge that Hamas has come to power as a result of legitimate elections." Kommersant published Washington's reactions to Putin's statement under the headline "Scandal". Washington responded to this initiative with suspicion hinting that Moscow shouldn't get involved in separate negotiations with terrorists and that it threatened to undermine the unified position of the Middle East quartet. The US has already requested that Moscow clarify the Kremlin's intentions concerning negotiations with Hamas. In Israel, Kommersant writes, the invitation provoked indignation, while negative attitude towards Putin's initiative is shared by almost everybody. France has become the only world power to approve. Hamas officials responded swiftly to Putin's suggestion: the organisation's deputy political bureau chief Abu Marzouq told Al-Jazeera TV channel that Russia could fill the vacuum left in the Middle East due to the failure of US mediatory policies. Prominent political commentator Marianna Belenkaya of Ria Novosti maintains that the Kremlin's decision to talk with Hamas aims to show publicly that it remains an influential force in the Middle East. Wanting to avoid a conflict of civilisations, which would undermine its national stability, Moscow is trying to act as intermediary between the Arab world and the West and regards relations with Hamas as part of this mediation.
