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France, Italy team up to slam nuclear Iran

ROME, Sept 1, 2006 (AFP) – Italy and France said Friday that the world could not accept Iran’s nuclear activities and identified the country as one of the chief international challenges.

“We cannot accept that Iran should be able to resume its activities in the nuclear field,” French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said in Rome after a first round of talks with his Italian counterpart Romano Prodi.

“I deeply regret Iran’s unsatisfactory response (to calls for it to halt its nuclear enrichment programme). The international community has to show its determination.

“The door must always remain open to dialogue, but the international community cannot accept that undertakings given are not respected.”

“Iran is one of the great challenges to resolve,” said Prodi, who emphasised the “perfect harmony” between the two countries on the issue and added that “cooperation between the two countries must extend to Iran.”

Talks with Iran have been conducted by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States) plus Germany.

In recent days Italy has suggested it should be more closely involved in the discussions.

Copyright AFP

Subject: French news