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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Talk of sanctions on Iran 'premature': France
2006-01-14
deja vú all over againFrance
said Friday it was "premature" to speak of sanctions against Iran for resuming sensitive nuclear activities.

"The question of sanctions is premature," foreign ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said. Instead it was necessary to "proceed step by step" after Thursday's meeting of the French, German and British foreign ministers in Berlin.

The European group of three called for an extraordinary meeting of the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to refer Iran to the UN Security Council.

Paris would "continue consultations" with Russia, China and its European partners on the issue, the spokesman said. Officials from the European Union, United States, China and Russia will meet over the Iran nuclear crisis in London on Monday, a European diplomat said Friday in Vienna. They are expected to decide when to hold the extraordinary meeting of the IAEA board of directors, according to the diplomat.

Iran's standoff with the international community escalated Tuesday after it resumed sensitive nuclear research linked to uranium enrichment, which produces fuel for nuclear power reactors but can also be used to make atomic bombs.

On Wednesday Tehran warned that reference of its programme to the UN Security Council could force it to cut off contact with the EU group of three, who have been leading negotiations over Iran's atomic programme since 2004.

"If the dossier is sent to the Security Council, the European countries will lose the means which are currently at their disposal, because... the government will be obliged, in conformity with the law adopted by parliament, to end all its voluntary measures of cooperation," Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said consensus was growing among the international community for action but that the military option was not being considered.
not by you, maybe ...

"I think in current circumstances it would not be conceivable, it would not be appropriate," he said. "Iran is not Iraq, we're working with the international community to resolve this in a peaceful and diplomatic manner."
true enough, they're not -- they look to be further along in actually having nuclear-tipped missiles
Russia, which has been trying to reach a compromise with Iran on uranium enrichment by carrying out the process on its soil, again urged Tehran to resume a moratorium on nuclear research and cooperate with the IAEA.
Posted by:lotp

#16  
Ok maybe I've had one too many beers, but the more! I see EU leadership, the more it reminds me of the old midget wrestling I used to see on tv. Jack, wudda maroon!!
Posted by: macofromoc   2006-01-14 23:46  

#15  
Ok maybe I've had one too many beers, but the more! I see EU leadership, the more it reminds me of the old midget wrestling I used to see on tv. Jack, wudda maroon!!
Posted by: macofromoc   2006-01-14 23:46  

#14  FOAD unto France!
Posted by: 3dc   2006-01-14 23:43  

#13  You know I don’t mind that we have to be the big stick of the world. I do mind that France, Germany, and EU seem to think the command us. France should try keeping the peace within its own borders before it try to act like a world diplomat. Although I don’t like the idea of bombing Iran (because it might strengthen the mullahs) it may become necessary to do so it the interest of peace and security. Also it’s real hard to trust a government that start each morning in a mosque by chanting: “ Death to America!”
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2006-01-14 23:14  

#12  I am not suprised. Chirac/France and Merkel/Germany are first whores. What do you expect for a lepoard to change it's spots?

Right. The only thing I'm surprised about is that anyone actually believed the EUnuchs were really serious this time. I'm certain Bush didn't believe it.
Posted by: xbalanke   2006-01-14 23:12  

#11  I am not suprised. Chirac/France and Merkel/Germany are first whores. What do you expect for a lepoard to change it's spots?
Posted by: Sock Puppet O´ Doom   2006-01-14 23:03  

#10  "formerly of the Crusades"
You mean as in the famous Third Crusade, with Philip carrying his quarrels with Richard along, and eventually taking his army and going home?
Politics back home still seems to bedevil work in the Mideast. . .
Posted by: James   2006-01-14 23:00  

#9  More French obstructianism.

OK France, its on you. Nukes fly, its YOUR fault. We will NOT stop any flying at France, nor retaliate against Iran for doing so.
Posted by: Oldspook   2006-01-14 22:25  

#8  there is a reason why France has lost a lot of wars.
Posted by: bgrebel9   2006-01-14 22:22  

#7  Out of NATO now.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-01-14 21:38  

#6  As the saying goes, 'Dhimmies will be dhimmies'. And there's no better dhimmi than a peace loving Frankish dhimmi (formerly of the Crusades, but now just spineless save-us-from-the-Jihad appeasers).

And btw Mr. Chirac your jizyah payment is 2 weeks past due.
Posted by: jpal   2006-01-14 21:07  

#5  time for Condi to show the links between the French, Russians, and Germans all helping Iran develope the Nuclear plants. Then she announces the US has frozen the funds of the French companies and individuals who did this. I'm dreaming, of course.
Posted by: 49 Pan   2006-01-14 20:55  

#4  Someone is being bought off -- again.
Posted by: CrazyFool   2006-01-14 20:53  

#3  It's time to stop catering to these stooges. Secretary Rice has better things to do.
Posted by: Darrell   2006-01-14 20:47  

#2  I think it's time for Sec'ty Rice to pop by with a large envelope full of translated photocopies, and her best heeled boots.
Posted by: trailing wife   2006-01-14 20:45  

#1  "If the dossier is sent to the Security Council, the European countries will lose the means which are currently at their disposal..."
Ahhhem! Pardon me, but how is this a European matter anyway? Iran is threatening Israel and The Great Satan. What's really going on here is that these European stooges are dragging this out to curry favor with Iran for trade purposes. Take their copies of the dossier and shove them where the sun doesn't shine.
Posted by: Darrell   2006-01-14 20:26  

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