Babacan: "Turkey opposes nuclear weapons in its region"

Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday met with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, proceeding to Istanbul after a weekend visit to Geneva. Afterwards, Babacan said, "Turkey is holding consultations on Iran's nuclear program with six countries, as well as Iran itself." He added, "We believe every sovereign country has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful aims and to possess that technology. But Turkey is opposed to nuclear weapons in its region." For his part, Jalili said that they spoke about his meetings in Geneva. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan is set to visit New York tomorrow to drum up support for Turkey's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2009-2010. Babacan will spend his three-day visit holding meetings at United Nations headquarters and will also host a reception for international ambassadors serving there.