Russian ambassador: Security of Israel is important to Russia

By HAVIV RETTIG GUR
It goes without saying that Israel's existence and security are important to Russia and to all the international community, Russian ambassador to Israel Peter Stegny told the Jewish Agency Board of Governors on Sunday. In a historic first meeting between the Russian ambassador and the Jewish Agency leadership, the ambassador said that the historic "obstacle" between Israel and Russia - aliya of Russian Jews - "is seen as resolved," according to sources who were in the meeting. Asked about Russian assistance for Iran's nuclear reactor at Bushehr and Russian talks with Hamas, the ambassador said the Iranian reactor was civilian in nature and that "there is no alternative to political negotiations" with Hamas, said the sources.