The Hindu : National : India opposes Iran’s ‘nuclear weapon ambitions’

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Tuesday, Sep 30, 2008
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India opposes Iran’s ‘nuclear weapon ambitions’

Harish Khare

MARSEILLE: India declared on Monday that it was not appreciative of Iran’s “nuclear weapon ambitions.”

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told a joint press conference of Indian and European journalists after the India-European Union summit that India would not like “another weapon state emerging in our neighbourhood. India was opposed to Iran’s nuclear weapon ambitions.”

The issue of Iran’s nuclear programme came up in the discussion at the summit between the EU and India. The joint press communiqué called on “Iran to take steps to re-establish confidence in the nature of its nuclear programme, as required by the IAEA Board of Governors.”

The two sides affirmed their support for “the current diplomatic efforts and steps in order to find a satisfactory solution to the nuclear issue.”

French President Nicolas Sarkozy thought there was “a good identity of views” on Iran.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said he was repeating India’s familiar stand. “Iran is a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT); as such it is entitled to all cooperation in its civilian nuclear programme; at the same time, as NPT signatory, it had undertaken all the obligations.”

In response to a question on American air strikes in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas, Mr. Sarkozy replied that he was impressed with Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s determination to help out in Afghanistan. “If Pakistan did its bid, non-Pakistan armed forces will no longer be needed.”

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