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France still sees diplomatic way out of Iran nuclear crisis
 | Of course they do. They're French. |
ABU DHABI - French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said on Sunday that a diplomatic solution was still possible to the crisis over Irans nuclear programme.
Very frankly, I think the diplomatic path is possible. I believe that, he said at a joint press conference in Abu Dhabi with Emirati Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahayan. I dont want to believe for an instant that Iran, after having isolated itself politically and economically, can afford to take further risks, the French minister said.
Asked about the military option, he said the United States, which is at the forefront of international opposition to Irans programme, acknowledges that the strategy (of) using dialogue and pressure are bearing fruit.
| It's very useful to us whilst we align our forces and allow certain other 'programs' to bear fruit. |
The five UN Security Council permanent members, including France, and Germany are currently discussing a draft resolution to tighten sanctions against the Islamic republic for its controversial nuclear fuel work. The council in December agreed a first set of measures penalising Iran for its refusal to suspend sensitive uranium enrichment activities.
| The new sanctions will be more completely ineffectual. |
Frances policy is centred on firmness and dialogue as well as achieving unanimity, said Douste-Blazy, warning that if there is no unanimity, there will be no effectiveness to the Security Councils position.
| Grandmaster of the Obvious, specially trained at the Ecole Nationale d'Administration. |
A military strike, which the United States has refused to rule out, would have unpredictable consequences which would prove deeply destabilising for the whole region, he said.
| We could predict a few of those consequences ... |
Douste-Blazy was winding up a tour of Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, which like the other Gulf Arab states have also warned against the regional impact of any strike on Iran.
| Mostly 'cause they don't want to get hit with the splatter ... |
Posted by: Steve White 2007-03-12 |
