Ahmadinejad refuses EU nuclear incentives
ISN SECURITY WATCH (Wednesday, 17 May 2006: 15.07 CET) – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that his country would not agree to an EU proposal offering incentives in return for nuclear concessions.
In a speech in the city of Arak, where a heavy water production plant is situated, Ahmadinejad dismissed an as yet unannounced EU proposal that would see Iran end uranium enrichment activities, receiving a light water reactor in recompense.
"They say we want to give Iranians incentives, but they think they are dealing with a four-year-old, telling him they will give him candies or walnuts and take gold from him in return," Ahmadinejad said, in comments carried by Iranian state television.
He added that Western powers should not "force governments and nations who are signatories to the atomic Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT] to pull out of it".
Iranian officials have warned that the Islamic republic will pull out of the NPT and refuse further International Atomic Energy Agency oversight of its nuclear program if sanctions are imposed by the international community.
Ahmadinejad said that Iran would not agree to a further delay in its nuclear activities, having found a previous stay a "bitter experience".
The BBC reports that France, Germany and the UK are thought to be discussing a plan involving the reactor offer.
Representatives of the three countries were due to meet officials from Russia, the US and China on Friday for negotiations on the Iranian nuclear crisis but the parlay was delayed. A British Foreign Office spokesperson told the BBC that the delay was designed to allow for greater discussion on the incentives proposal.
The meeting is expected to be held within ten days.
Once the EU incentives package is presented, an Iranian refusal would raise the pressure on Russia and China to end or modify their absolute opposition to the implementation of a sanctions regime.
In a speech in the city of Arak, where a heavy water production plant is situated, Ahmadinejad dismissed an as yet unannounced EU proposal that would see Iran end uranium enrichment activities, receiving a light water reactor in recompense.
"They say we want to give Iranians incentives, but they think they are dealing with a four-year-old, telling him they will give him candies or walnuts and take gold from him in return," Ahmadinejad said, in comments carried by Iranian state television.
He added that Western powers should not "force governments and nations who are signatories to the atomic Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT] to pull out of it".
Iranian officials have warned that the Islamic republic will pull out of the NPT and refuse further International Atomic Energy Agency oversight of its nuclear program if sanctions are imposed by the international community.
Ahmadinejad said that Iran would not agree to a further delay in its nuclear activities, having found a previous stay a "bitter experience".
The BBC reports that France, Germany and the UK are thought to be discussing a plan involving the reactor offer.
Representatives of the three countries were due to meet officials from Russia, the US and China on Friday for negotiations on the Iranian nuclear crisis but the parlay was delayed. A British Foreign Office spokesperson told the BBC that the delay was designed to allow for greater discussion on the incentives proposal.
The meeting is expected to be held within ten days.
Once the EU incentives package is presented, an Iranian refusal would raise the pressure on Russia and China to end or modify their absolute opposition to the implementation of a sanctions regime.
posted by Marko at 5/17/2006 08:00:00 AM
<< Home