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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| EU to refer Iran to security council |
| 2006-01-12 |
| The British, French and German foreign ministers said Thursday that negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program had reached a "dead end" and the Islamic republic should be referred to the U.N. Security Council. The ministers did not specify what action should be taken by the Security Council, which could impose sanctions. They called for a special session of the International Atomic Energy Agency to decide the referral. The action came two days after Iran broke U.N. seals at a uranium enrichment plant and said it was resuming nuclear research after a two-year freeze. Enriched uranium can be used as a fuel for both nuclear energy and nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is only for fuel. In a joint statement, the diplomats cited Iran's "documented record of concealment and deception" and charged that its government seems "intent on turning its back on better relations with the international community." "From our point of view, the time has come for the U.N. Security Council to become involved," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after meeting with his French and British counterparts and the European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana. The Bush administration, meanwhile, arranged to have Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns go to Britain, France and Germany next week to coordinate strategy. Burns also will hold talks in India, said a senior U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the State Department was not ready to issue a formal statement. While Burns will be consulting in Europe, Solana plans to be in Washington to coordinate with Bush administration officials. Steinmeier said the three countries would inform the board "that our talks with Iran have reached a dead end." Solana said the EU and national governments were left with no choice but to call for Iran's referral. But he would not rule out a new round of negotiations with Tehran. Steinmeier stressed that the Europeans remain ready to solve the problem "diplomatically, multilaterally and by peaceful means." Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has vowed to press ahead with a nuclear program that Iran says is designed to produce civilian energy. "Unfortunately, a group of bullies allows itself to deprive nations of their legal and natural rights," he said Wednesday. "I tell those superpowers that, with strength and prudence, Iran will pave the way to achieving peaceful nuclear energy. Iran's move increased worries in the United States and other Western countries that Iran intends to produce nuclear weapons, while Russia, a longtime Iran ally, indicated it could reverse its opposition to bringing Tehran before the Security Council, which could impose sanctions. Russia and China, both members of the IAEA board that would have to approve referring Iran to the Security Council, have previously opposed the idea. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia, the United States, the European Union and China would discuss the issue in London next week. He told Ekho Moskvy radio that Iran's latest move did not violate international law — but also said that Moscow did not exclude the possibility of turning the Iranian dossier over to the Security Council. "It causes concern that Iran is opting out of its moratorium in the absence of answers to questions, serious questions" from the IAEA, Lavrov said. "Our main task is to persuade Tehran through joint efforts to return to the moratorium." China on Thursday urged more talks, without saying whether it would back taking Tehran to the Security Council. China "hopes that all parties concerned can exercise restraint and resolve this within the IAEA framework and through peaceful negotiations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing. "We firmly believe this serves the interests of all parties concerned." |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #15 This President A's elevator don't go clear to the top - in fact it is several floors short. That is not a good sign for the leader of a country that is comitted to 1) developing nuclear weapons, 2) proving it can stand up to the West, 3) rallying susceptible Muslims against Israel, and 4) seeing the Caliphate before celebrating with virgins. The IAEC won't stop them, the UN won't, the Security Council won't, sanctions won't, deals won't, even the Israelis won't. Only force will stop them, and you know who draws that straw. |
| Posted by: Hank 2006-01-12 23:07 |
| #14 This UNSC business is at worst ticket punching. Let's just get it over with. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-01-12 22:10 |
| #13 Barring any US-China deal, any punitive Security Council action other than "double secret probation" is a pipe dream. |
| Posted by: doc 2006-01-12 22:07 |
| #12 Anonymoose I never posted the article here and don't want to search for it again... but ... one of the diplomatic blogs has this little story about China asking the US for better military relations and military trade. Seems State is mulling it. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2006-01-12 19:44 |
| #11 In a show of solidarity, Euroweanie soldiers are wearing baby blue berets and matching ammo belts. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-01-12 17:21 |
| #10 Kojo got new wheels? |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-01-12 16:50 |
| #9 Oh, boy! Kofi's involved! You guy's are really gonna get it now! Annan Says Iran Wants to Discuss Nukes UNITED NATIONS - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Iran's top nuclear negotiator told him Thursday that Tehran was interested in "serious and constructive negotiations" with Britain, France and Germany over its atomic program. During a 40-minute telephone conversation, he said, Ali Larijani said Iran wanted to resume negotiations with the Europeans, but this time favored a deadline. "He affirmed to me that they are interested in serious and constructive negotiations but within a timeframe, indicating that the last time they did it for 2 1/2 years and no result," Annan told reporters. The statement came after the British, French and German foreign ministers said negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program had reached a "dead end" and the Islamic republic should be referred to the U.N. Security Council, which could impose sanctions. Maybe the Iranians can send a plane over for him? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-01-12 16:11 |
| #8 China has long been the only UNSC member that is really questionable with Iran. And it does it out of no love for Iran, but with cynical purpose to get something out of the deal. This most likely means that the US and China have been diplomatically horse-trading the finer points of China pulling the rug out from underneath Iran. With both sides even calculating the effect on Iran, whether it will shock Iran into shaping up, or propel Iran to belligerence. All is considered. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-01-12 15:28 |
| #7 Gosh, the Germans, Brits and French are sooooo manly I could almost swoon. |
| Posted by: Missy 2006-01-12 15:10 |
| #6 Non-permanent UNSC members for this year are: Argentina, Congo, Denmark, Ghana, Greece, Japan, Qatar, Peru, Slovakia and Tanzania. I hope we don't have to play childish games again. |
| Posted by: Jake-the-Peg 2006-01-12 14:07 |
| #5 The IAEA will diddle and daddle then one of the permanate UNSC members will kill any prospect of real UN action. Nutting to see here. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet O´ Doom 2006-01-12 13:52 |
| #4 Mother! |
| Posted by: .com 2006-01-12 13:27 |
| #3 Oh, boy! You'll get it now, MISTER! |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-01-12 13:27 |
| #2 The 12th imam's a commin. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2006-01-12 13:24 |
| #1 At least they pulled the plug instead of letting Ahmadinejad string it out till the first detonation. Now will they do anything except shiver? |
| Posted by: Ebbeans Ulolurt7886 2006-01-12 12:58 |