France reiterates diplomacy on Iran
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-10-21 15:10 The French Foreign Ministry on Friday reiterated
the hope to solve Iran's nuclear issue through peaceful and diplomatic means.
The French Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei told the media
that France has always adhered to the principle of solving Iran's nuclear issue
thorough diplomatic channels, as French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has
affirmed that his country doesn't approve of solving the problem by military
means.
Mattei said France noticed that Iran had not expressed the will to reopen
nuclear talks, and that the European Union (EU) was considering to impose
possible sanctions against Tehran after it refused to meet a demand to suspend
all uranium enrichment related activities by August 31, set out in UN Security
Council (UNSC) Resolution 1706.
EU foreign ministers issued a statement on Tuesday, saying that if Iran does
not comply with UNSC's requirements, the EU would "work for the adoption of
measures under Article 41 of the UN Charter," which stipulates economic and
diplomatic sanctions.
The spokesman noted that posing sanctions against Iran wasn't aimed at
punishing the country, but to exert pressure to make Iran come back to the
negotiating table. He stressed that the door to hold talks with Iran remains
open.
Iranian officials have criticized the EU statement, saying it would destroy
the opportunity to resolve Iran's nuclear issue peacefully, and worsen the
crisis in the Middle East.
Iran insists that its nuclear program is totally peaceful, but the United
States accuses Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons, and intends to push
for UN sanctions against the country.
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