Islam Times - Turkey rejects use of force against peaceful nuclear activities

Islam Times - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has voiced Ankara’s opposition against the use of force against countries seeking peaceful nuclear technology.

“No one has the right to use coercive force against a country whose activities are aimed at peaceful nuclear purposes,” Erdogan said at a news conference in the Iranian capital on Wednesday, IRNA reported.

“Any sound mind is opposed to the military use of nuclear technology, but on the other hand, no opposition should be made against peaceful nuclear activities,” he stressed after talks with Iran’s Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi.

The Turkish premier also reiterated Ankara’s willingness to host the next round of multifaceted talks between Tehran and the P5+1 -- Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany -- and highlighted the Islamic Republic’s readiness for negotiations.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said the talks will be held on April 13 at a venue yet to be announced, pointing to Turkey as a possible option for hosting the event.

Erdogan said his country will be closely monitoring the process and the outcome of the event, emphasizing Ankara’s support for negotiations.

Iran and the P5+1 have so far held two rounds of talks, one in Geneva in December 2010, and another in the Turkish city of Istanbul in January 2011.

The Islamic Republic says it is ready to resume the talks based on common grounds; however, it has repeatedly made clear that it will not negotiate on any of its nuclear rights.

Iran maintains that, as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it has the right to acquire and develop nuclear technology for peaceful objectives.