ERDOGAN SAYS TURKEY WILL NEVER ACCEPT NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN REGION

WorldBulletin.net
May 12 2010
Turkey

The Turkish prime minister said on Wednesday that Turkey did not want
nuclear weapons in its region.

Wednesday, 12 May 2010 16:59

The Turkish prime minister said on Wednesday that Turkey did not want
nuclear weapons in its region.

Turkey’s Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would never accept
nuclear weapons in its region.

"Turkey continuously tells this to Iran," Erdogan told a joint press
conference with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Ankara.

Erdogan said Turkey’s stance on Iran’s nuclear program was obvious, and
Iran had also announced that it had no intention to prepare an atomic
bomb, a weopon of mass destruction that would lead to end of humanity.

"We have always said we support nuclear initiatives with humanitarian
goals," he said.

Erdogan said Turkey and Russia signed an agreement on establishment of
a nuclear power plant on Wednesday to make use of that energy within
humanitarian framework.

On Upper Karabakh dispute, Erdogan said Russia’s position on this
issue was different as it was a member of the Minsk Group and a
neighboring country.

Erdogan said Minsk Group should go on with their active initiatives,
and Turkey would also assume responsibilities and take part in the
process.

"I hope we will make this region an area of peace," he said.

Referring to energy cooperation with Russia, Erdogan said the first
step was the establishment of nuclear power plant, and the second
was purchase of natural gas and oil.

Erdogan said Turkey was providing 70 percent of its natural gas
and oil need from Russia, and was willing to further improve Blue
Stream project.

"We also attach importance to Samsun-Ceyhan crude oil project, which
is also an environmental project that will save the Straits," he said.

Erdogan also said Turkey would also construct a refinery in the
southern town of Ceyhun.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress