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Published on Tuesday, 20 June 2006 14:27
Germany has
called for the world\'s leading nuclear powers to
reduce their atomic arsenals as they press Iran to curb
its nuclear programme.
Foreig n Minister
Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged the five permanent members
of the U.N. Security Council -- the United States,
Russia, China, Britain and France -- to make concessions
in the context of the Iran dispute, Spiegel magazine has
reported.
\"I am in fact of the view that,
beyond the current Iran conflict, we must review the
worldwide nuclear armament status. We are in favour of
effectively applying the Non-Proliferation Treaty. It
contains the promise of the nuclear powers disarming,
and we should press them to do that,\" he
said.
The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is a
1970 global pact against the spread of atomic weapons
which is policed by the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.
Germany, a non-nuclear
power, and the five permanent U.N. Security Council
members have offered Tehran a package under which Iran
would get trade and technology benefits if it halts
uranium enrichment work.
\"So far we have not
had a clear sign, or a real reaction,\" Steinmeier said
of the offer made to Iran. \"What is positive, however,
is that we are apparently for the first time seeing Iran
in a state of reflection.\"
News
Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament 
