Turkey backs Iran, restates diplomacy
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Turkey says that it has always supported Iran's stance on its nuclear issue and has reemphasised that any coercive measure against Tehran would prove ineffective, reports Internet.
"Turkey has always supported Iran's stance when it comes to the nuclear program," said visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglo in a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki Tuesday.
The Turkish official rejected any punitive measures against Iran, saying that the Iranian nuclear issue could best be resolved through diplomatic means.
"We need to resort to diplomatic means to solve the problem and military means, attacks, sanctions or embargoes will not be fruitful," he stated, adding that all nations are entitled to peaceful nuclear energy, but atomic weapons have no place in the world.
Despite the fact that the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) came into effect 40 years ago to curb the spread of nuclear weapons, the very possession of thousands of nuclear weapons by certain countries has deeply disturbed the international community.
While accusing Iran of working toward a military nuclear program without any evidence, the US is one of the biggest nuclear-armed states and the one and only one to have used them against another country.
On a UN-backed deal that would provide fuel for Tehran's research reactor, the top diplomat said that Turkey would be willing to act as a mediator and Ankara would "do its best" to see what it could do for the fuel swap.
Meanwhile, AFP from Kampala adds: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit UN Security Council member Uganda this week for talks over its nuclear programme and Kampala's oil industry, the foreign ministry here said Tuesday.
"He's coming for a two-day visit where will be discussing bilateral relations," said James Mugume, the permanent secretary of Uganda's foreign ministry.
The Iranian leader is scheduled to arrive in Kampala Friday.
"Obviously as a member of the Security Council we are going to discuss the issue of nuclear energy," Mugume told AFP, without giving details.
"Turkey has always supported Iran's stance when it comes to the nuclear program," said visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglo in a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki Tuesday.
The Turkish official rejected any punitive measures against Iran, saying that the Iranian nuclear issue could best be resolved through diplomatic means.
"We need to resort to diplomatic means to solve the problem and military means, attacks, sanctions or embargoes will not be fruitful," he stated, adding that all nations are entitled to peaceful nuclear energy, but atomic weapons have no place in the world.
Despite the fact that the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) came into effect 40 years ago to curb the spread of nuclear weapons, the very possession of thousands of nuclear weapons by certain countries has deeply disturbed the international community.
While accusing Iran of working toward a military nuclear program without any evidence, the US is one of the biggest nuclear-armed states and the one and only one to have used them against another country.
On a UN-backed deal that would provide fuel for Tehran's research reactor, the top diplomat said that Turkey would be willing to act as a mediator and Ankara would "do its best" to see what it could do for the fuel swap.
Meanwhile, AFP from Kampala adds: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit UN Security Council member Uganda this week for talks over its nuclear programme and Kampala's oil industry, the foreign ministry here said Tuesday.
"He's coming for a two-day visit where will be discussing bilateral relations," said James Mugume, the permanent secretary of Uganda's foreign ministry.
The Iranian leader is scheduled to arrive in Kampala Friday.
"Obviously as a member of the Security Council we are going to discuss the issue of nuclear energy," Mugume told AFP, without giving details.