|
|
| By: Associated Press |
| Published: November 15, 2005 |
| |
Turkey supports Iran's right to a nuclear program for peaceful energy production, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said but added that the Iranian leadership should take steps to assure the world that it does not intend to build weapons.
"Turkey supports Iran's use of nuclear power for peaceful means. However, the Iranian leadership must openly show its goodwill and convince the international community," Gul said.
Gul, who was addressing a parliamentary committee during a review of his ministry's budget, said rhetoric by the Iranian leadership was cause for concern to Turkey. It was in apparent reference to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's remark last month that Israel should be "wiped off the map." Turkey is a close ally of Israel.
Gul said Turkey regarded the presence of nuclear weapons and their proliferation as a serious security threat.
Iran has repeatedly said it wants to move ahead with a nuclear program to generate power but the United States says Tehran is hiding nuclear weapons ambitions.
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
