Bush: US, EU must “work together” on Iran
Washington, 10 June (IranVNC)—Speaking at his last joint U.S.-EU Summit in Slovenia today, President George W. Bush said the United States and the European Union must prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. “Now’s the time for us to work together to stop them,” Bush said.
By: IranVNC
Published: Tuesday, June 10, 2008
20:16GMT—4:16PM/EST
BUSH – EUROPE – MERKEL
Washington, 10 June (IranVNC)—Speaking at his last joint U.S.-EU Summit in Slovenia today, President George W. Bush said the United States and the European Union must prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. “Now’s the time for us to work together to stop them,” Bush said.
A nuclear armed Iran would be “incredibly dangerous for world peace,” Bush said, expressing hope that the international community could pressure Iran to stop its uranium enrichment program before the end of his presidency.
In a joint summit statement, the EU and U.S. warned Tehran that it will face new sanctions if it did not suspend its sensitive nuclear work. But the major powers did reiterate their commitment to a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue.
EU foreign policy Chief Javier Solana has said that he will “probably” travel to Tehran on June 15 to present Iran with a renewed package of incentives to persuade it to stop its uranium enrichment activities. Iran today also confirmed the date, adding that Solana would be accompanied by representatives of the P5+1 group, minus the U.S.
Bush also expressed hope that the U.S. will reach an agreement with Europe regarding climate change before the end of his presidency. The issue has been a point of friction between the two sides. Washington says carbon-dioxide emissions caps mandated by the Kyoto protocol on climate change are too restrictive and has instead proposed voluntary measures to reduce greenhouse gases.
The US president further voiced support for Turkey’s bid to join the EU, which France and Germany oppose. “We strongly believe Turkey ought to be a member of the EU, and we appreciate Turkey’s record of democratic and free market reforms,” Bush said, according to AFP.
Bush then traveled to Germany to hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In addition to Iran, the two leaders will discuss Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, high oil prices, world financial markets and climate change, a spokesperson for Merkel said today, according to Reuters.
Sources: Reuters, Agence France-Presse
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