European leaders formed a united front with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, emphasizing their common position on Iran's nuclear ambitions and pressing Syria to withdraw from Lebanon
Published:
20 March 2005 y., Sunday
European leaders formed a united front with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, emphasizing their common position on Iran's nuclear ambitions and pressing Syria to withdraw from Lebanon.
At a joint news conference, Putin and the leaders of France, Russia and German said there was no contradiction between Russian nuclear cooperation with Iran and Europe's efforts to ensure that Tehran is not building nuclear weapons.
"We all have an interest in Iran not having nuclear weapons. They must not produce them. They must not possess them. But no one can deny a country the right to have nuclear energy for civilian and peaceful ends," said German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, speaking through a translator.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that although his country is aiding Iran's civilian nuclear program, Tehran also must prove that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons.
"Iran must prove that it refuses totally the acquisition of a nuclear weapon. No other limit exists," said the Russian leader, also speaking through a translator.
The United States is worried that Russia's construction of a reactor in the Iranian city of Bushehr could help Tehran develop nuclear weapons. Tehran denies it is seeking the bomb.
But U.S. officials say Russia increasingly has shared their concerns about Iran's nuclear program and have praised Moscow for demanding a deal — signed last month — that obliges Iran to return spent nuclear fuel from Bushehr. The accord is designed to prevent any possibility that Tehran will extract plutonium from the spent fuel and use it to make nuclear weapons.
Šaltinis:
centraleuropepost.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
New legislation for pan-European supervision of credit rating agencies and a public debate on how financial institutions are managed.
more »
On 2 June in Vilnius, Lithuania‘s Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Asta Skaisgirytė Liauškienė and Deputy Director General of the World Trade Organization Rufus H. Yerxa discussed the main issues on the international trade policy agenda, Russia‘s WTO accession and the changing role of China in the world economy.
more »
2157 former construction workers in Spain and 598 ex-employees at the Irish crystal glass company Waterford Crystal with suppliers could get €11 million in EU globalisation adjustment fund aid for training, self-employment and professional orientation under plans approved by the Budgets Committee on Wednesday.
more »
Companies from the UK, Belgium, Germany and Spain have won the 2010 European Business Awards for the Environment.
more »
The planned overhaul of EU fisheries policy should devolve more powers to regions, protect small coastal fleets and boost aquaculture, said MEPs and members of national parliaments on Tuesday.
more »
The first in a series of loan agreements for energy efficiency investments in multi-apartment buildings was signed today between the European Investment Bank (EIB), as manager of the JESSICA holding fund in Lithuania, and Šiaulių bankas.
more »
Despite the current economic crisis and tensions in the euro, Estonia is set to adopt the single currency in January.
more »
Commission proposes a bank tax to cover the costs of winding down banks that go bust.
more »
The European Investment Bank will provide a total of EUR 400 million to Hellenic Petroleum SA in order to increase the production of cleaner fuels via the upgrading of the Elefsina refinery.
more »
European ministers meet on Tuesday and Wednesday in Brussels at the final Competitiveness Council to be held during the six months of the Spanish Presidency, which has an agenda laden with important issues such as the electric vehicle, the European patent system and national R+D investment goals.
more »