STRELNA, July 15 (RIA Novosti) - Iran and North Korea's controversial nuclear programs were among the key issues addressed at talks between the presidents of Russia and the United States near St. Petersburg ahead of the Group of Eight summit Saturday.
President Vladimir Putin said at a joint news conference after the meeting that both countries advocated a peaceful solution to the long-running disputes over Iran and North Korea.
"Both sides confirmed their resolve to find solutions to those complex issues by peaceful, diplomatic means," Putin said.
The Islamic Republic has been accused by many countries of seeking to produce nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian energy program, but has denied the accusation, insisting that it only wants nuclear technology for power production.
North Korea, on the contrary, declared itself a nuclear power in February, but the world community has no conclusive evidence to confirm that the North has built nuclear weapons. The six-nation talks with the communist state have been deadlocked since September.
The country provoked international alarm last Tuesday by carrying out a series of ballistic missile tests in the Pacific. The tests broke the country's moratorium on missile tests.
George W. Bush said at the news conference that he and President Putin had agreed that Iran should not have nuclear weapons, and added the U.S. would soften its position if Iran proved it had rejected its nuclear program.
Iran has been under pressure to halt uranium enrichment, a necessary step for building nuclear weapons, but has so far failed to respond to a package of incentives to fold its nuclear program proposed by a group of international mediators, forcing the Iran-6 countries to refer the Islamic Republic's "nuclear file" to the UN.
The U.S. has been the most outspoken opponent of Iran's alleged nuclear ambitions, consistently demanding sanctions, and refusing to rule out the use of force.
Bush said both the U.S. and Russia believed the Iran problem should be resolved via the UN Security Council, which has authority to impose economic sanctions and other less stringent punitive measures.
Bush said Moscow's proposal to set up a uranium enrichment center in Russia to supply Iranian nuclear power plants with fuel and deliver spent fuel back to Russia was a good option for the Islamic Republic if it sought to develop its civilian nuclear energy sector.
The presidents adopted a statement on safe development of nuclear energy and agreed to set up international uranium enrichment centers in a bid to give all countries access to nuclear power while deterring the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Putin also said at the news conference that Russia was pleased with the joint efforts on Iran.
"Today, we are satisfied with the way cooperation between Russia and the United States on this issue is proceeding," he said.
On North Korea, Putin and Bush adopted a joint statement urging the North to resume nuclear talks and voicing concerns over the Communist state's missile tests.
