March 21, 2008 Iran's Nuclear
Pursuits Threat to Europe: Sarkozy
Cherbourg (France)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Friday that the country's
nuclear arsenal was "strictly defensive," and warned that Iran's
nuclear pursuits were a threat to European security.
Speaking in the northern port of Cherbourg at the presentation of
France's fourth new-generation nuclear submarine, Sarkozy said, "Our
nuclear arsenal is strictly defensive and will be used only in
self-defence as defined by the Charter of the United Nations."
He went on to say, "All those who threaten our vital interests
expose themselves to a harsh response," and warned that the
aggressor country's "military, political and economic centres" would
be targeted.
In his first major speech on defence and national security since
taking office 10 months ago, Sarkozy distanced himself from his
predecessor, Jacques Chirac, who on a similar occasion had
threatened to use France's nuclear arsenal against any country
supporting terrorist attacks against France.
Significantly, Sarkozy singled out Iran as a threat, noting that
Teheran "is increasing the range of its missiles while there are
serious suspicions over its nuclear programme. European security is
at stake".
The French president also called on all countries who have not done
so, and specifically the US and China, to ratify the nuclear test
ban treaty, and said he would propose the immediate start of
negotiations on a treaty to ban short- and medium-range
ground-to-ground missiles.
The submarine that Sarkozy introduced Friday, The Terrible, will
enter service in 2010 and will be equipped with 16 intercontinental
ballistic missiles (ICBM) with a range of 8,000 km, 2,000 km farther
than the range of current French ICBMs.
Sarkozy also pledged that France would reduce its airborne nuclear
arsenal by one-third, bringing the number of its nuclear missiles to
below 300.
"None of our nuclear arms are aimed at anyone," he said.
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