Iran rejects potential European incentives
(AP)
Updated: 2006-05-17 19:36
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday rejected a possible
European offer for incentives, including a light-water nuclear reactor, in
return for allaying fears about his country's nuclear program by giving up
uranium enrichment.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, center
top, talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing, bottom, during a
meeting in Beijing, China, Tuesday, May 16, 2006. Lavrov is meeting with
top Chinese leaders as the two countries coordinate their diplomacy on
Iran's nuclear standoff. Others are unidentified.
[AP] |
"Do you think you are dealing with a 4-year-old child to whom you can give
some walnuts and chocolates and get gold from him?" Ahmadinejad told thousands
of people in a speech in central Iran.
European nations have weighed adding a light-water reactor to a package of
incentives meant to persuade Tehran to permanently give up uranium enrichment —
or face the threat of U.N. Security Council sanctions.
Senior diplomats and EU government officials said Tuesday that the tentative
plans were being discussed among France, Britain and Germany as part of a
possible package to be presented to representatives of the five permanent U.N.
Security Council members and Germany at a meeting in London. All spoke on
condition of anonymity because of the confidential nature of the information.
|
