Iran seeks Uganda’s help over nuclear programme

By TABU BUTAGIRA, Daily Monitor Reporter in Kampala
Posted Saturday, April 24 2010 at 20:02

President Museveni on Saturday revealed that UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has asked Uganda to vote in favour of fresh sanctions against Iran but he has dithered to take a decision due to conflicting accounts about Tehran’s nuclear programme.

“I was not following this matter until Gordon rang me several weeks ago and he told me that I (Uganda) should vote with them against Iran at the UN Security Council,” he said. Uganda is a non-permanent member of the UN Security. And the US President Obama is pushing the world body to pile new sanctions on Tehran for allegedly seeking to develop bombs.

Mr Museveni told a press conference at State House Entebbe that he addressed jointly with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — who left last evening after a 2-day state visit — that British and Iranian emissaries he met offered varying versions on the weapons row.

“I have discussed this matter with President Ahmadinejad in detail...I am going to engage the US and tell them what we have heard,” he said, adding: “We are not agents of anybody. After we have got the facts, we shall consult our other African brothers and see what position to take (on Iran).”

Mr Ahmadinejad said he has challenged the West to produce evidence about Tehran’s alleged nuclear weapon ambition but they have failed. Instead, he said, western leaders are clamouring to unjustifiably invade Iran and “look” for evidence from inside the country.

He said: “The hostility of the US and the UK to Iran isn’t new; they defended and supported the war imposed by (late Iraq president) Saddam Hussein on Iran for 8 years” “They want to monopolise nuclear weapons and energy and deny other countries that right because they want to impose their own will on others.”

The Iranian leader said they are not bothered by the proposed “unjust” fourth sanctions because “Mr Obama needs us more than we do”. Earlier during a state banquet held in his honour, Mr Ahmadinejad had described as “treason” attempts by the West to restrict use of nuclear energy.

“We think it is the right of all nations to use nuclear energy. No one has a right to deny any nation this right,” he said, calling for justice, respecting for human dignity, morality and spirituality globally. He cited economic and environmental reasons to justify nuclear energy, saying whereas it would require $560 million to generate 1,000 megawatts of thermal electricity in a year, nuclear technology reduces that cost to only $60 million.

“In addition, fossil fuels pollute the environment severely and contribute towards global warming and climate change,” added the Iranian leader. He added: “They want to monopolize nuclear energy and weapons. They want to prevent the spread of gainful use of nuclear energy.”

At Saturday’s press conference, the two leaders, while reaffirming their commitment to nuclear non-proliferation, challenged all countries with its stockpiles to destroy them so that other threatened nations don’t seek to possess their own. Uganda and Iran signed memoranda of understanding on Overseas Development Assistance and Cooperation in Health.

Source: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/Iran%20seeks%20Ugandas%20help%20over%20nuclear%20programme/-/1066/905982/-/bpaelq/-/