Singapore supports Iran on nuclear issue

Iran defiant with atomic banknote

Iran has put its determination to complete the nuclear fuel cycle on paper, with a bank note depicting an atomic symbol.
The 50,000 rial note shows electrons in orbit around an atom on a map of Iran.

The Islamic republic is fiercely proud of its nuclear programme, which has provoked alarm in the West.

The US accuses Iran of running a secret nuclear weapons programme. Iran denies this, saying its sole aim is the peaceful production of nuclear energy.

The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on Iran for defying its call to stop uranium enrichment.

But Iran insists it has the right to run a nuclear programme.

Singapore seems to be aligning itself closely to Iran and Iran seems to be claiming that this means that they support their nuclear ambitions.

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 12:41:35
A top minister from Singapore has echoed comments by a former Iranian President that the international community must take more reasonable measures in dealing with Iran's nuclear issue.

Singapore's Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said in his meeting Tuesday with the Chairman of Iran's Expediency Council, Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, that Iran is entitled to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, IRIB reported.

Tong said "Miscalculations and a lack of appropriate knowledge" over Iran's nuclear program could lead to what he termed were 'dire consequences'.

Singapore is member of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Rafsanjani said for his part that Iran has consistently offered confidence building measures over its peaceful nuclear program.

Iran's former president expressed his hope that the parties in Iran's nuclear file with the UN will take more effective steps in settling the ongoing dispute and in winning the 'confidence' of all sides involved.

Iran has repeatedly said that its nuclear program is for peaceful civilian purposes intended for generating electricity for the country's ever-growing energy needs.

SO/MR/BG

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Singapore

Singapore Stresses Iran's Right to Use N. Energy

Someone should let the US of A know about this...

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Singapore's parliament speaker here on Tuesday emphasized the right of all the world countries, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, to use nuclear energy for peaceful intentions.

The official made the remarks in a meeting with the chairman and members of Iran-Singapore parliamentary friendship group, a report released by the Information and Media department of the Islamic Consultative Assembly said.

During the meeting, the Iranian chairman of the two countries' parliamentary friendship group, Seyed Hossein Hashemi, viewed expansion of cooperation by the two countries' private sectors as a giant stride in deepening mutual relations.

He also called on the two countries' traders and businessmen to take the very desirable opportunities existing for investment in various economic sectors, adding that the measure would consolidate the two nations' ties.

Elsewhere, the lawmaker noted the regional position and standing of Iran and Singapore, and reminded, "Iran can serve as a proper gate for Singapore's private sector to gain access to the extensive markets of Central Asia, while Singapore is viewed as a desirable gate for the Iranian businessmen to have a share of the East Asian market.

Referring to the position of tourism in global economy, he mentioned that both states enjoy high tourism potentials which can serve as a good backup for the deepening of the two countries' cordial ties once activated.

Hashemi further noted the significance of legislative ties, and termed development of parliamentary relations, specially formation of parliamentary friendship groups as an important factor consolidating mutual cooperation between the two countries.

He also voiced the Iranian parliament's full support for the development of cooperation with Singapore in all areas.

For his part, Singaporean parliament speaker stressed expansion of the two countries' ties in the various areas of industries, man power, tourism and trade.

He also voiced his country's strong support for the inalienable right of all the world nations, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, to make a peaceful use of nuclear technology.

"Iran is a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and as an NPT member, it has complied with all its undertakings," Singapore's chief legislative official said.

He further stated his country's enthusiasm for the expansion of all-out ties with Iran, and said that Iran's strategic position in the region has provided good potentials for Singapore to access the Middle-East region.

Singapore