Visiting French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin yesterday urged
Iran not to use uranium for military purpose and an early date for a solution
over its nuclear program.
Villepin, who arrived here Sunday for a two-day working visit, made the
appeal to Tehran at a press conference after talks with his Finnish counterpart
Matti Vanhanen.
On Thursday, foreign ministers of the five permanent members of the UN
Security Council -- the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China -- plus
Germany agreed upon a European offer of incentives if Iran halts uranium
enrichment and punishments if Tehran does not comply to solve the current
standoff over its nuclear program.
Javier Solana, foreign policy chief of the European Union (EU), arrived in
Tehran late Monday to present Europe's new proposal to resolve the issue.
On the hindered EU constitution, Villepin said there would be no change in
his country until the presidential election to be held next spring.
The proposed EU constitution was rejected last year by France and the
Netherlands. Under EU rules, all 25 member states must ratify the constitution
before it comes into force.
Finland is to take over the rotating EU presidency in the second half of the
year. Villepin said he hoped the EU would be able to make progress on energy,
social affairs and employment during Finland's upcoming six-month presidency of
the bloc.