Both U.S. President, Mr. George Bush and Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin in a show of unity expressed concern that Iran had not responded to an incentives offer made by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany. The two leaders issued a joint statement reaffirming their intention to limit nuclear proliferation including North Korea, Iran and the Middle East.



Tehran has not accepted an offer made in early June of economic incentives in exchange in exchange for halting its nuclear programme. This has prompted the US to refer Iran to the Security Council. Iran maintains its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only but because of national pride, it will not stop spinning the centrifuges that are enriching uranium into nuclear fuel



Though Britain, France, the US and Germany are in favor of economic sanctions if Iran fails to co-operate, they do not have the support of the veto- wielding members-China and Russia. However, there was a similarity of opinion regarding North Korea’s recent missile launches and both the leaders urged Pyongyang to return to the six-party talks on its nuclear programme.



The Bush-Putin statement added that both countries were actively working towards unity among the Security Council members on these sensitive issues. The Security Council has already unanimously condemned the missile tests by North Korea and adopted a resolution imposing weapons-related sanctions on it.



The G-8 leaders have issued a statement on non-proliferation unanimously hailing the resolution and condemning the missile launches. On Iran, the statement added that the members were seriously concerned over the implications of Teheran’s advanced nuclear programme.



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