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Israel confronts China over missile aid to Iran

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, November 30, 1999

JERUSALEM -- For the first time, Israel has publicly raised concerns of Chinese transfer of missile technology to Iran.

It was the first time that Israel has raised this concern. Until now, successive Israeli governments focused solely on Russian aid to Teheran's missile and nuclear programs.

Prime Minister Ehud Barak told Chinese parliamentary chairman Li Peng, number two in China's Communist Party, that Israel is concerned that China is selling arms to Iran. The two men met on Sunday and afterwards met reporters.

Israeli and U.S. intelligence sources said China, Russia and North Korea are selling Iran the technology and know-how for its intermediate- and long-range missile programs. They said this includes special material to ensure that Iranian missiles do not burn up during flight.

"The prime minister raised the regional threats to Israel and, in this regard, especially emphasized the threat of arming Iran,'' Barak's office said in a statement.

The Israeli statement quoted Li as stressing that his country has normal relations with Iran.

Diplomats said Russian leaders urged Israeli and the United States to pressure other missile technology suppliers to stop helping Iran. They said China has been excluded from the U.S.-Israeli campaign to avoid a backlash by Beijing.

U.S. officials have asserted that Israeli transfers of advanced technology to China could also find their way to Iran.

In Beijing, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi met with Chinese leaders to increase cooperation and transfer of technology.

Tuesday, November 30, 1999

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