Erdogan says Turkey will never accept nuclear weapons in 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.


/World Bulletin/