French President Jacques Chirac on Tuesday called for further talks with Iran, saying he does not want to set a deadline for Iran to suspend its nuclear activities.

Chirac told world leaders at the annual general debate of the UN General Assembly that confidence has been impaired by the existence of illegal programs in the crisis with Iran.

"We have extended to that major country ambitious offers of cooperation, provided it restores confidence by suspending its contentious activities," he said.

"Dialogue must prevail. Let us talk in order to enter into negotiations," the French president stressed.

Meanwhile, Chirac pointed out that the international community must stand firm and united on the issue.

"We aim to ensure security in accordance with international law and with due regard for the sovereignty of all countries," he added.

Shortly after delivering the speech at the General Assembly, Chirac told reporters that "we are committed to negotiations and therefore to dialogue. So we are not going to start by setting deadlines that are a few hours long."

There can be no negotiations without, at the start of the negotiations, a halt to nuclear enrichment by the Iranians, Chirac said after meeting his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush earlier Tuesday.

He emphasized that the two powers had the same approach on how to address the Iranian challenge.

Chirac on Monday called on Iran to give up all activities related to uranium enrichment, and urged world powers not to refer Iran to the UN Security Council.

"I don't believe in a solution without dialogue ... We can find solutions via dialogue," Chirac told Europe-1 radio hours before departing for New York.

Source: Xinhua