Ahmadinejad arrives in Russia for security summit: official

[villager]

Source: African Business

Ahmadinejad arrives in Russia for security summit: official

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Russia on Tuesday to attend a regional security summit, in his first trip abroad following his disputed election victory, an official in the Iranian delegation told AFP.

"Yes, yes, yes, his plane is now sitting" at the airport in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg in the Urals Mountains, the Iranian official said on condition of anonymity.

Ahmadinejad was expected in Russia on Monday, but postponed his trip following unrest over his disputed election victory.

Read more: http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?are...

[ananda]

1. Shame.

nt

[GoesTo11]

2. He sure is a happy-go-lucky guy.

First the victory speech, now this. Seems quite comfortable with power, no matter how obtained.

[babylonsister]

3. I thought the outcome of the election would take days? nt

[jeff30997]

4. Cool I can type something that i haven't seen in a while:

Iran's pResident Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

[O is 44]

6. Ha, so true

eerily familiar.

[Strong Atheist]

22. Welcome to DU!

[Canuckistanian]

5. He's out of the country?

Hmmmmmm......

[chollybocker]

7. Yekaterinburg must have a Members Only outlet store.

[alittlelark]

8. Afraid of being in his own country?

....seems like....

[jeff30997]

9. The tittle is too long.

It should read: Ahmadinejad arrives in Russia for security.

[MADem]

10. I'd laugh like hell if the Army, led by Rafsanjani, staged a coup, arrested

the Supreme Leader and Guardians, and installed Mousavi as PM and a puppet of Raf's as Supreme Leader!

[davepc]

11. The Sha left Iran to go on 'vacation' in 1979. Never made it back.

[951-Riverside]

12. Russia welcomes Ahmadinejad

Source: Associated Press

Russia welcomed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Tuesday on his first trip abroad since his bitterly disputed re-election, a show of support for a leader facing massive protests at home and questions from the West about the legitimacy of the vote count

Ahmadinejad arrived in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg and sat down for talks at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which includes Russia, China and four Central Asian nations. Iran has observer status in the grouping, widely seen as a counterbalance to U.S. interest in the region.

A senior Russian diplomat hailed Ahmadinejad's visit as evidence of strong ties between Russia and Iran.

"It's quite symbolic that the Iranian president arrived in Russia on his first foreign visit since re-election," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said at a briefing. "We see that as a sign that the Russian-Iranian relations will advance further."

Ahmadinejad had been expected to arrive Monday and meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on the sidelines of the summit. He postponed the trip for one day amid persistent street protests in Iran following his re-election Friday in a vote his main opponents claim were rigged. Iran's state radio says at least seven people died in clashes in Tehran.

Ryabkov said the election was Iran's internal affair, but he endorsed Ahmadinejad as the victor.

"We welcome the fact that the elections have taken place, and we welcome the newly re-elected Iranian president on the Russian soil," he said. "We see this visit as a reflection of partner-like, neighborly and traditionally friendly relations between Moscow and Tehran."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/0...

[ButterflyBlood]

13. Figures, Russia's elections are now as much of a joke as Iran's was

I can only hope this is a permanent vacation for him. Ahmadinejad might be best off hoping so too, permanent exile is better than the fate of Ceausescu.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DRoseDARs]

19. Greetings You!

Send some details about the topic of spambotting.

[madeline_con]

14. " partner-like, neighborly and traditionally friendly relations between Moscow and Tehran."

Cozy on up to those oil terminals, Komrades.

[Hannah Bell]

20. both countries are capitalist, comrade.

[madeline_con]

23. Your point? n/t

[Old and In the Way]

16. I wonder what quid-pro-quo's could come out of this.

Ahmadinejad is obviously not bargaining from a position of strength. I wonder what kind of deals he could be cooking up with Russia/China? Oil /warm water ports/investments - I'm sure he'd love to do something huge that would enhance his credibility, deliver some quick tangible benefits to the Iranian people, and turn the page on this election.

[Prometheus Bound]

17. I notice yesterday reports said he was to meet President Medvedev.

Now AFP says that meeting was canceled. Not sure if that's because he missed the first day of the summit or for other reasons?

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iMyX...

[aquart]

18. Think he'll be able to go home?

[robcon]

21. Maybe the result will be like the Shah.

Except that he would run to Russia, not the U.S.