Turkey advocates Iran program: Erdogan

Ankara, Nov 16, IRNA

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan advocated Iranian nuclear
program saying that there is no objection in this respect from Turkey.

Delivering a speech at University of Colombia in New York, he said it
is not correct to ask a single country not to produce nuclear energy.

He criticized the Western countries led by the US for stockpiling
nuclear weapons and said those countries having nuclear weapons should
first put themselves under question.

Erdogan underlined the need for removal of nuclear weapons from the
entire world.

Referring to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's letter to US
president-elect Barrack Obama, he stressed that "this is a step of
which we should take advantage".

Previously, the Turkish premier had advised Obama to make efforts to
settle Tehran-Washington dispute through dialogue, voicing Ankara's
readiness to mediate.

Turkey is interested in settlement of all disputes and believes that
war cannot solve problems.

Erdogan expressed hope that Obama's election would lead to restoration
of the US prestige in the world.


End