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"So although Iran doesn't have a weapon, those who say Iran shouldn't have them are those countries which do," Erdogan said. (Reuters) |
CAIRO – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the West of treating Iran unfairly over its nuclear program, denying Western accusations that Tehran was seeking nuclear weapons.
"There is a style of approach which is not very fair,” Erdogan said in an interview with the Guardian on Monday, October 26.
He accused the world major powers of “hypocrisy” in tackling the Iranian nuclear issue, especially those with “very strong nuclear infrastructures.”
"The permanent members of the UN Security Council all have nuclear arsenals and then there are countries which are not members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which also have nuclear weapons,” Erdogan noted.
"So although Iran doesn't have a weapon, those who say Iran shouldn't have them are those countries which do."
The US and its main European allies accuse Tehran of developing a secret nuclear weapons program.
Iran insists that its nuclear program only aims at procuring power to feed an increasing local consumption.
"Iran does not accept it is building a weapon…They are working on nuclear power for the purposes of energy only," said Erdogan.
He warned against any "crazy" military strike targeting Iranian nuclear installations.
“I don't think that would be right."
The US has never ruled out a military action against Tehran and its chief regional ally, Israel, has already threatened military action against the Islamic republic.
Prejudice
Taking up his country’s decades-old EU accession talks, Erdogan said Ankara’s membership would help strengthen the West’s relations with the Muslim world.
"Being in the European Union we would be building bridges between the 1.5 billion people of the Muslim world to the non-Muslim world,” he contended.
“They have to see this. If they ignore it, it brings weakness to the EU."
Ankara's long quest to join Europe's 27-country club has been dogged by problems since it was made an official candidate in October 2005.
"Among leaders in Europe there are those who have prejudices against Turkey, like France and Germany,” said Erdogan.
“Previously under Mr Chirac, we had excellent relations [with France] and he was very positive towards Turkey,” he recalled, referring to former French president Jack Chirac.
“But during the time of Mr Sarkozy, this is not the case.”
Opposition from France and Germany, the EU’s two central powers, has dimmed prospects of the overwhelmingly Muslim nation of 71 million ever joining the 27-nation bloc.
“The European Union is violating its own rules,” Erdogan said.
“It is an unfair attitude.”
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