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Turkey criticizes UN Security Council over Iran sanctions

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, June 10, IRNA -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday lashed out at the UN Security Council over imposing new sanctions on Iran in connection with its nuclear program.

According to Bernama, Erdogan said that Turkey voted "no" to UN Security Council's sanctions against Iran, because Turkey, Iran and Brazil signed a nuclear swap deal.

"If we had not said 'no' to sanctions, we would have denied ourselves. It would be a dishonor. We would not want to participate in such a dishonor because history will not forgive us," he said.

The Turkish premier made the statements at the 5th meeting of the Turkish-Arab Economic Cooperation Forum, held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Istanbul on Thursday.

Referring to last month's uranium swap agreement signed between Iran, Turkey and Brazil, Erdogan said Turkey had to "stand behind its signature," saying that Turkey and Brazil had taken the initiative to solve the Iranian nuclear issue.

"We have argued from the beginning that the issue must be solved through diplomacy," he added.

Erdogan said the swap agreement was a diplomatic breakthrough and criticized the Security Council for scuttling the deal.

Turkey contacted all sides involved, including the UN Security Council permanent members, after the agreement was signed, and they all admired what had been accomplished and declared it a diplomatic victory.

Erdogan also said that his country would continue its efforts to solve the issue through diplomacy.

"We are putting forth our clear and bold attitude in regard to global issues and humane matters without making racial, regional or geographical discrimination.

We are exerting great efforts for peace, stability and prosperity in Balkans, Caucasus, Middle East," he said.

The Security Council imposed a fourth round of sanctions against Iran on Wednesday.

The resolution passed with “no” votes from Turkey and Brazil, which argued that sanctions were the wrong approach to take on Tehran, and an abstention from Lebanon.

By giving no votes to the new Security Council’s resolution, Turkey and Brazil reiterated that a nuclear fuel swap deal they inked with Iran last month created the opportunity for further diplomacy.

By inking the deal, they revived parts of a plan brokered by UN nuclear inspectors in October for Tehran to part with 1,200 kg of low enriched uranium in return for fuel rods for the Tehran research reactor.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton’s office said last night that the resolution keeps the door open for continued engagement between world powers and Iran.

“Sanctions are not the endgame or the final solution,” the EU statement said. “We hope that today’s decision will bring Iran to the negotiating table.”

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End News / IRNA / News Code 1170544