Turkey: Nuclear energy all countries' absolute right, including Iran
Iran-Turkey, Politics, 5/23/2006

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday at Middle Eastern World Economic Forum that "Taking advantage of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is all countries' absolute right, including Iran's."

Erdogan made the comment in a TV Forum which also featured the prime ministers of Malaysia, Egypt and Lebanon.

In response to the forum anchorman's question, "What benefits would Turkey gain from talking to Iran and would Ankara participate in such affairs?" Erdogan said, "I have had two meetings with President Ahmadi-Nejad during the course of the past month."

He added, "The main objective behind those meetings was finding out what we could do about the prevailing viewpoints on nuclear energy in the region and the world; whether Iran's nuclear program as really aimed at peaceful purposes as it is often stressed or not?; what could be done to solve the current crisis?; etc."

The Turkish Prime Minister said "Holding high level political dialogues with Iran in that respect is of great significance under the current circumstances and in my talks with the esteemed president of our friendly and brother neighbor, Iran, we were both agreed that the problems needs to be solved through diplomatic means."

Erdogan said, "As Iran's neighbor, we feel obliged to take certain steps today towards problem solving. Let me make it clear here that we are totally opposed to nuclear programs meant at military usage, but if they are truly meant for peaceful purposes, no country has the right to oppose them."

He added, "There are dozens of countries in the world today that are taking advantage of nuclear energy, and Iran should logically not face obstacles for doing the same."

Erdogan said, "Turkey, too, is pursuing a project aimed at launching some nuclear reactors to meet a part of its needs to energy and we are involved in talks with USA, Canada, Britain and Germany in that respect. Should our program, then, be put under similar questions?"

Previous Stories:
  Russia, Saudi Arabia discuss Iran nuclear issue   (5/22/2006)
  Arab leaders: US policy on Iran has no credibility   (5/22/2006)
  US military and financial pressure on Iran   (5/22/2006)
  Iran- Turkey security concerns interlinked   (5/1/2006)
  US not seen as trust worthy by Turks, opposition to intervention in Iran   (3/27/2006)
  Iran ready to transfer nuclear technology to Islamic states   (9/15/2005)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search