. . .

QUESTION: Renmin Ribao, China. Mr. Minister, I have the following question.

How would you comment on President Bush's words that he did not rule out the possibility of military actions in Iran? What measures will Russia take under the worst scenario?

Thank you.

SERGEI LAVROV: Speaking about Iran, I would like to note that the main parties to negotiations, contacts aimed at resolving the nuclear problem in that country proceed from the need to settle it by political, diplomatic means. There are opportunities for that, as has been confirmed by the meeting of the IAEA Council of Governors in November last year, which considered accords reached between three European countries -- France, Britain and Germany, on the one side, and Iran on the other.

The accords have been backed by Russia, and Russia has had parallel contacts with both the European troika and with Iran during that period. It is an agreement that Iran's uranium enrichment program should be frozen and close unrestricted cooperation should continue between Iran and IAEA.

If all parties stick to the agreement which calls for the development of cooperation with Iran in the energy and economic spheres and in settlement in the region, I am convinced that we will attain the desired results.

I would rather not speak, even in hypothetical terms, about what may happen if someone resorts to other measures, than diplomatic and political measures. I repeat, I am convinced that peace settlement of the Iranian nuclear problem using political means on the basis of reached accords, on the basis of mutual account of interests, on the basis of mutual respect is possible, and Russia will do everything required for those accords to be implemented.

. . .

QUESTION: BBC. A question about Iran's recent accords with three countries -- Germany, France and Britain -- on nuclear technologies.

Won't this impair Russia's positions in Iran's energy market?

The Iranian ambassador to Russia said recently that cooperation between Russia and Iran depends on Russia's position and its openness.

My second question is about terrorism. All CIS member states have backed Russia's initiative on combating terrorism. But in some of them the struggle against terrorism is just a struggle against political opponents.

As the leader of the CIS, is Russia responsible for those moves in any way?

SERGEI LAVROV: Iran. Russia engages in cooperation with Iran on the energy sphere along with other forms of economic cooperation. We have cooperated with Iran in the sphere of nuclear energy in the framework of a project calling for the construction of a nuclear power plant at Bushehr. The project is absolutely transparent and fully under IAEA control. We are interested in developing such cooperation with Iran in future. We have corresponding plans in response to the wishes of the Iranian side.

We have been in close contact with the European countries you have mentioned and in negotiations with Iran. We have maintained contacts with the Iranian leadership and our European partners would like us to coordinate our actions in developing cooperation with Iran.

In any case I can say that we will not tolerate attempts to use developments around the Iranian nuclear program in orderto undermine Russia's positions in the Iranian energy market by non- market and wrongful methods. We have no grounds for fearing such attempts.

I repeat, we are conducting these conversations in a businesslike and open manner and we are ready to compete, but to compete honestly without attempts to use political negotiations to undermine each other's commercial positions.

On your second question, I don't know what concrete examples you are referring to. The CIS, the Central Asian Cooperation Organization has achieved an agreement to form lists of persons and organizations involved in terrorist activities. This work is being done on a collective basis and it does not consist in a mere mechanical combination of national lists.

So, I repeat, the fight against terrorism within the CIS is based on revealing organizations and persons complicit in terrorist activities.

. . .