Uganda, Ireland discuss Iran sanctions over nuclear enrichment program

KAMPALA, June 28 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan and Irish foreign ministers on Monday met here and discussed among others the sanctions against Iran over its uranium enrichment program.

Sam Kutesa, Uganda's foreign minister, told reporters here shortly after meeting his Irish counterpart Micheal Martin that Uganda explained why it voted for a recent UN Security Council resolution to endorse sanctions on Iran.

"It is simply that they were not accepting the International Atomic Energy Agency to do inspection. We think that if there is nothing to hide there is no need why you do not have inspectors," Kutesa said.

The United Nations Security Council on June 9 adopted a resolution to impose the fourth round of sanctions against Iran.

The resolution was approved by the 15-member council by a vote of 12 in favor. Brazil and Turkey voted against and Lebanon abstained.

Uganda, as a non-permanent member of the council, voted in favor of the sanctions.

Kutesa said that while Uganda believes that it is every country' s right to develop peaceful energy from nuclear technology, the world should be free of nuclear weapons.

"Our policy is very straight forward, we believe in a nuclear free world. Those who have nuclear weapons should get rid of them, those who do not have them should not acquire them," he said.

Martin is in Uganda for a three-day visit during which he is expected to launch a five year Irish Aid Country Strategic Plan and sign a memorandum of understanding with Uganda's finance minister Syda Bbumba.

Over the next five years Ireland will give Uganda over 166 million Euros worth of aid which will be allocated to development programs focusing on HIV/AIDS, education, gender, governance and private sector development.

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