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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iran warns Europe on nuclear concessions |
| 2005-02-16 |
| Iran's foreign minister on Tuesday warned Britain, France and Germany that they must make more economic and technological concessions to meet a deadline next month for agreement on Tehran's nuclear activities. The three European Union powers are trying to persuade Iran to abandon its uranium enrichment program, which Washington fears could be used to manufacture nuclear weapons. Iran insisted again Tuesday that its nuclear activities are peaceful. But the talks still need much progress to reach a fruitful conclusion, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamel Kharrazi said after discussions with the Luxembourg government, which holds the EU presidency. "It needs more efforts, more seriousness, more confidence building to be evaluated as a fruitful and positive process," he added. "So we have to try harder and be more serious." Kharrazi called for the 25-nation bloc to be more open on economic and political issues. Iran suspended its uranium enrichment program last year under a deal struck with France, Britain and Germany and it plans to decide soon whether to continue the suspension, which is monitored by U.N. nuclear inspectors. Iran's top nuclear negotiator Hasan Rowhani said earlier this month that his nation would not be obliged to continue talks if no progress is made by March 20, which would mark the end of the Iranian calendar year. In exchange for nuclear guarantees, the Europeans are offering Iran technological and financial support and talks on a trade deal. "So both sides have been supposed to talk to each other to come up with the guarantee system. It is going on but still there is more room to be developed," Kharazzi said. He added that the negotiations would sink to the level of "talk in generalities without any tangible movement" if no practical measures are taken to open up the markets and let European technology flow to Iran. Luxembourg's deputy Foreign Minister Nicolas Schmit was hopeful about a positive outcome. "I am quite optimistic we will be able to achieve an agreement," he said. Kharrazi will be at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, for more talks on Wednesday. Asked about North Korea's recent claim that it possessed nuclear weapons, Kharrazi said the Iranian situation was different because inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency were still being allowed to conduct inspections. He said Iran was honoring the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the international agreement barring the spread of nuclear weapons. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #8 Since when did Europe start allowing extortion? 1968 or thereabouts, when they caved to their own children and their children's explosive little friends. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-02-16 11:43:43 AM |
| #7 Iran’s foreign minister on Tuesday warned Britain, France and Germany that they must make more economic and technological concessions to meet a deadline next month for agreement on Tehran’s nuclear activities. Since when did Europe start allowing extortion? The mullahs shouldn't have a nuclear weapon. Period. No negotiations needed! Either they get rid of it, or we'll do it for them. What's to discuss? |
| Posted by: The Doctor 2005-02-16 11:24:08 AM |
| #6 B-a-R - I think it's a tad closer to extortion, lol! Look at the article - nothing but demands, lol! But that's all frippery - as it always has been. Since they have no intention to complete this melodrama, much less abide by it, it just boggles why France and Germany don't bail as Tony did, take their bows for a fine performance in a stage(d) tragedy, and let the UNSC box get checked off. Everyone knows that's the next step, so call it a day on this one, already, lol! AP - I'm not in worried mode any longer. The Inauguration speech told me what I wanted to know. They won't get their new toy. Period. Come what may, Persian people on-board or not, it can not be allowed to happen. Full stop. If not us, then Israel. Q.E.Fucking.D. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-02-16 10:59:15 AM |
| #5 Ah, but it IS negotiation. The EU is negotiating from a position of weakness, as they have nothing that they're willing to offer up in the way of consequences in the event Iran won't play ball. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-02-16 10:47:50 AM |
| #4 Yeah, .com. The MMs are playing brinksmanship lite. And what do the E3 want the US to bring to the EverSoSerious Negoitiating Table? A Fourth Fool? We have some serious choices, none very pleasant to make w/r/t the Iranians and their Nukes to Be. The capacity for self delusion in the face of a horrendous threat just boggles the mind. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2005-02-16 10:36:02 AM |
| #3 Lol! It strikes me that the "process" we are reading about bears no resemblence to negotiation. That would not be the word to accurately describe this joke. If it weren't for the fact that we all know this is an irrelevant stalling game with no Iranian intent to make any new agreement or even abide by those they've already made, the whole E3 effort would be laughable. But I'll pretend it's serious if you guys will. Heh. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-02-16 9:59:52 AM |
| #2 Why would they wait that long, JM? The agreement can be broken before the words are spoken. They are progressive that way. Very advanced. |
| Posted by: Jame Retief 2005-02-16 9:40:36 AM |
| #1 "I am quite optimistic we will be able to achieve an agreement," And the rest of us are optimistic the agreement will be broken before the ink is dry. Ass. |
| Posted by: JerseyMike 2005-02-16 8:16:08 AM |