Sanctions on Iran may come in February, Merkel says
14:13, 27 January 2010
BERLIN. January 27. KAZINFORM. February was a crucial month for United Nations in pushing toward sanctions on Iran for its controversial nuclear program, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday, after talking with visiting Israeli President Shimon Peres; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
"The issue of sanctions on Iran will be on the agenda when France has the chair of the UN Security Council," Merkel said at a joint press conference with Peres after their meeting. "I think February will be the crucial month."
She stressed that Germany wants a diplomatic solution, rather than a military one, over the dispute of Iran's nuclear program, and any sanctions should first be agreed "over the widest possible basis" within the United Nations.
However, she also noted that if countries failed to reach a consensus in the Security Council, countries with similar thoughts "should aimed for the same result"; Kazinform refers to Xinhua. See www.news.xinhuanet.com for full version.