Ahmadinejad sends letter to Bush
Tehran, 8 May (AKI) - Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has written a letter to US president George W. Bush suggesting "new solutions" to the international crisis over Tehran's nuclear ambitions, government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham announced on Monday. Iranian diplomatic sources told Adnkronos International (AKI) that Ahmadinejad presented his view of the crisis and suggested solutions to the impasse in the letter. The sources also said similar letters will be sent to the embassies of other countries involved in talks over the crisis in the coming hours.
Ahmadinejad's letter to Bush will reportedly be sent through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which represents US interests in the country.
In the letter, the Iranian president suggests "new solutions for getting out of international problems and current fragile situation of the world," the government spokesman said.
It is reportedly the first letter from an Iranian president to a US counterpart since the Iranian revolution in 1979.
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana are scheduled to meet in New York on Monday to discuss a common strategy to solve the crisis over Iran's nuclear programme, which Western powers fear is aimed at building atomic weapons.
The West suspects Iran is using its civilian atomic programme as a cover to build atomic weapons. But Iran claims its programme is solely for civilian use and that it has the right to pursue uranium enrichment as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The five permanent members of the Security Council are divided over potential punitive measures against Tehran.
Though insisting it wants a diplomatic solution to the standoff, the Bush administration has not ruled out military action.
Britain and France would not oppose sanctions while Russia and China are against such measures and the use of force against Iran, a key trading partner for both countries. All four countries have veto power as permanent members of the Security Council along with the United States.
Ahmadinejad's letter to Bush will reportedly be sent through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which represents US interests in the country.
In the letter, the Iranian president suggests "new solutions for getting out of international problems and current fragile situation of the world," the government spokesman said.
It is reportedly the first letter from an Iranian president to a US counterpart since the Iranian revolution in 1979.
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana are scheduled to meet in New York on Monday to discuss a common strategy to solve the crisis over Iran's nuclear programme, which Western powers fear is aimed at building atomic weapons.
The West suspects Iran is using its civilian atomic programme as a cover to build atomic weapons. But Iran claims its programme is solely for civilian use and that it has the right to pursue uranium enrichment as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The five permanent members of the Security Council are divided over potential punitive measures against Tehran.
Though insisting it wants a diplomatic solution to the standoff, the Bush administration has not ruled out military action.
Britain and France would not oppose sanctions while Russia and China are against such measures and the use of force against Iran, a key trading partner for both countries. All four countries have veto power as permanent members of the Security Council along with the United States.
posted by Marko at 5/08/2006 08:22:00 AM
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