GREECE FILE: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad removes Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki from his post
Record ID:
313666
GREECE FILE: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad removes Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki from his post
- Title: GREECE FILE: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad removes Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki from his post
- Date: 14th December 2010
- Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (DECEMBER 6, 2010) (REUTERS) **CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MANOUCHEHR MOTTAKI ARRIVING FOR MEETING WITH GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER DIMITRIS DROUTSAS / TWO WALKING TOGETHER VARIOUS OF TWO MINISTERS SEATED TOGETHER IN OFFICE TWO MINISTERS WALKING DOWN TO HOLD ROUND TABLE MEETING WITH DELEGATIONS VARIOUS OF TWO MINISTERS AT ROUND TABLE MEETING SEATED WITH THEIR DELEGATIONS TWO MINISTERS STANDING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MANOUCHEHR MOTTAKI, SAYING "We hope that the talks and the negotiations that started today continue in a constructive way and reach a positive horizon." MOTTAKI AND DROUTSAS LISTENING TO JOURNALISTS QUESTIONS (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MANOUCHEHR MOTTAKI, SAYING "Diplomats are usually optimists, therefore we hope that the negotiations have positive results for both sides." TWO MINISTERS LISTENING TO JOURNALISTS QUESTIONS (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MANOUCHEHR MOTTAKI, SAYING "Nuclear weapons do not solve any problems, and only bring destruction. All countries of the world, without any exception, should move to denuclearisation." TWO MINISTERS SHAKING HANDS
- Embargoed: 29th December 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Greece
- Country: Greece
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAC9WAW19SKG4JL5ETAFO6U4PCR
- Story Text: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sacked the foreign minister on Monday (December 13) and appointed the country's top nuclear official as the caretaker for the key position, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.
"I appreciate your diligence and services as the foreign minister," Ahmadinejad said in a letter to Manouchehr Mottaki, Mehr reported.
Mottaki has recently been involved in talks between Iran and six big powers -- the United States, France, Russia, Britain, China and Germany -- the first in more than year, although Iran has signalled it is not about to back down in a long-running battle over what it insists are peaceful plans for energy production.
The six powers are hoping the discussions will focus on Tehran's disputed nuclear programme, but Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly said that uranium enrichment activity will not be up for negotiation. Iran says its nuclear programme is purely for peaceful purposes.
Pressure on Iran to return to negotiations has increased since June, when the United Nations imposed a fourth round of sanctions on the country, with the measures targeting the leadership as well as shipping and energy interests. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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