At A Minimum, As Credible As Cheney and Bush

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Putin, Sarkozy bridge gap on Iran

MOSCOW, Russia (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Iran must be encouraged to make its nuclear program fully transparent, but also underscored there is no proof it is pursuing a nuclear weapons program.

Putin and Sarkozy discussed how the world should respond to Iran’s nuclear activities.

"We are sharing our partners’ concern about making all Iranian programs transparent," Putin said at a news conference after talks with visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

"We agreed yesterday, and Mr. President confirmed it, that Iran is making certain steps toward international community to achieve that."

Sarkozy, on his first presidential visit to Russia, said the two countries had bridged some of their differences over how the world should respond to Iran’s nuclear activities.

"Our positions moved much closer together" on Iran, Sarkozy told reporters. He mentioned "many convergences" over Iran during their three hours of talks Tuesday night.

Sarkozy has hardened France’s stance on Iran in recent months, shifting closer to the United States in his insistence on tough U.N. Security Council sanctions and even his mention of the possibility of war.

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