WORLD / Europe
Chirac backtracks after gaffe on Iran bomb threat
(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-02-02 09:36
PARIS - French President Jacques Chirac backtracked on Thursday after
saying it would not be dangerous for Iran to have a nuclear bomb, a
sudden departure from the position France has long held with key allies.
France's President Jacques Chirac makes a point as he speaks at a
ceremony to mark the 30th anniversary of Centre Pompidou modern art
museum in Paris January 31, 2007. [Reuters]
Chirac made the comments to two US newspapers and a French magazine but
called the reporters back for another interview the next day and said he
thought he was speaking off the record.
His comments raised doubts about where France stands after years spent
jointly spearheading a diplomatic push aimed at ensuring Iran does not
develop atomic weapons, and prompted Chirac's office to say France's
position has not changed.
"What is dangerous about this situation is not the fact of having a
nuclear bomb - having one, maybe a second one a little later, well,
that's not very dangerous," Chirac, was quoted as telling the reporters
from the International Herald Tribune and New York Times newspapers, and
weekly Le Nouvel Observateur.
If Iran used a nuclear weapon against arch-foe Israel its capital Tehran
would be obliterated in retaliation, he said.
Chirac's office said the decision to publish the remarks was an attempt
to spark "a shameful scandal."
France and allies the United States, Britain, Germany, Russia and China,
have been pressuring Tehran to abandon technology that could be used to
make atom bombs.
Tehran denies charges that it is seeking nuclear weapons, saying it only
wants atomic technology to generate electricity.
Influential French daily Le Monde said Chirac's comments represented "a
radical turning point," adding: "One asks what credibility the French
position will now have."
But Washington and London played down Chirac's remarks.
"It is not a sentiment I share. What is more I understand the president
of France doesn't share it any more either," British Foreign Secretary
Margaret Beckett said.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told Iranian
state radio that Chirac's comments would "only worsen the current
unbalanced atmosphere which is the result of the wrong US policies."
The newspapers said that in the first meeting Chirac, 74 and approaching
the end of his second mandate, appeared distracted at times and struggled
to remember names and dates, but was more alert in the second interview.
1 2
Top World News
� Iran president vows to push nuke program
� Casey: Only half of troop boost needed
� Israel has no plans against Iran
� Chavez gets powers to rule by decree
� Boston devices a cartoon publicity ploy
Today's Top News
� PLA 'not involved in arms race', poses no threat
� EU seeks joint efforts on energy
� New firm to tap forex reserves
� Wealth gap continues to rise: Report
� Chinese President starts visit to Liberia
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment