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Chavez: Iran has right to atomic energy
3/12/2005 12:15:00 PM GMT Middle East Advertising by alClick Advertise Here Iran's President Mohammad Khatami with his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez. Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez defended Iran over its dispute with the U.S. and Europe regarding its nuclear program saying Iran has a right to atomic energy. "Iran has every right, like many other countries have done, to develop its atomic energy and continue its research in this field," Chavez said after meeting with his Iranian counterpart in Caracas. "Venezuela and Iran agree in firmly rejecting the imperialist policy of the United States." Chavez, whose country is a leading U.S. oil supplier, announced his stance after meeting Iranian President Mohammad Khatami who declared that both governments will stand "firm against any aggression." Relation between both countries with the U.S. are tense, as Washington believes that Iran could be trying to acquire nuclear arms while U.S. officials have branded Chavez undemocratic and a source of Latin American instability. Iran has consistently insisted that its nuclear program is purely for energy uses, and Chavez has accused Washington of backing plots to oust him. Speaking before Venezuela's congress, Khatami stated, "The injustice of the great powers that try to control the world." He said they include the United States and interfere "in other states under the precept of fighting terrorism and try to force all of humanity to follow their monopoly of power." Adding that both Venezuela and Iran "are firmly opposed to any aggression which takes place in their countries," adding that "instead of polarity and terror we want peace and security in the world." "What must be condemned are calls for violence, whether from terrorists or from aggressors with yearnings for domination," Khatami said. "Terrorism is the deadly phenomenon of our era, even more when some powers rush to meddle in the internal affairs of other states under the pretext of fighting terrorism, and then try to oblige all of humanity to follow them," he said in his speech to the National Assembly. The interests of the great powers, especially the United States, often "do not coincide with the true interests of the people," Khatami said. Khatami called for the condemnation of not only terrorist acts, but also for the condemnation "of crimes committed in the name of liberty, such as in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo." The two leaders on Friday signed some 20 agreements on cooperation on the oil and petrochemical industries, taxes, commerce and construction. U.S. to offer incentives The U.S. President George W. Bush agreed with the EU to offer Iran modest economic incentives to scrap its nuclear program, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday. The incentives include possible membership for Iran to the World Trade Organization and the sale of commercial aircraft spare parts. In return, Britain, France and Germany have agreed to join the U.S. in sending Iran's nuclear file to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions if it fails to abandon its nuclear enrichment program, U.S. and EU officials said. A European diplomat said the EU view is that "we go (to the Security Council) if Iran breaks its commitments," including if some new revelation about secret nuclear sites or activities is uncovered. The U.S. decision to approve offering incentives to Tehran is a significant shift from Washington's previous stance against the Islamic republic, which it accuses of covertly developing an atomic weapons program. "This is giving to the Europeans more cards to play in their negotiations with the Iranians," Rice said. "This is about unifying the international community so that it's the Iranians who are isolated, not the United States." Some U.S. officials want specific promises from the Europeans to send Iran's file to the UN Security Council in June and to back sanctions. "The Europeans have a strategy which is to show the Iranians that if they are prepared to live up to their international obligations there is an alternative path to confrontation and ... a path to a better future," Rice said. However, Rice denied that the U.S. decision indicated a policy shift. "We are supporting that diplomacy but this is most assuredly giving the Europeans a stronger hand, not rewarding the Iranians," she added. In their statement, Britain, France and Germany did not mention any deadline by which they might seek to send the matter to the UN Security Council nor did they offer to back any U.S. demand for UN sanctions. Iran denies that it seeks nuclear weapons and insists that its nuclear program is mainly for the peaceful generation of electricity. It has refused to permanently abandon its enrichment program, but has agreed to temporarily halt enrichment-related activities during its negotiations with the EU. Sending Iran's file to the UN Security Council could result in trade sanctions or even tougher action against Tehran. Posted by: TMH 2005-03-13 |
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