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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
EU wants to keep door open for negotiations with Iran
2007-03-26
The European Union (EU) supports further sanctions against Iran, but at the same time wants to keep the door of negotiations open, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday. "If Iran returns to the fold of the international community, we are ready to give generous offers to them," Merkel told a press conference after an informal summit of the heads of state and government of the EU member states.

Merkel was speaking in her capacity as president of the EU presidency. The EU leaders gathered in Berlin for celebrations of the bloc's 50th birthday. Apart from internal issues, like the EU constitutional treaty, the leaders also discussed Sudan's Darfur, Iran and the Middle East on Sunday.

Merkel's remarks came one day after the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution sponsored by Britain, France, and Germany, which had been negotiating with Iran on behalf of the EU. The resolution provides for tougher sanctions to pressure Iran to suspend uranium enrichment activities. Iran, however, remains defiant, saying the resolution is "illegal and unjustifiable."
Posted by:Fred

#13  "If Iran returns to the fold of the international community"

Returns? When the hell were they ever there to begin with?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2007-03-26 22:20  

#12  "If Iran returns to the fold of the international community, we are ready to give generous offers to them,"
That's like quieting your screaming toddler in the mall with an ice cream cone. Works great and teaches the toddler to scream again the next time you're in the mall.
Posted by: Darrell   2007-03-26 21:19  

#11  A says "ready to talk? If you are, there might be a carrot"

saying "ready to talk?" isnt spineless, its part of the strategy.

That is assuming that B is reasonable and has A's values and ethical structure.
Posted by: Pappy   2007-03-26 21:12  

#10  They're Process People, not Results People.

But it's nuanced process!
Posted by: Zenster   2007-03-26 20:21  

#9  Yeah, that pretty well summarizes their game. They're Process People, not Results People.
Posted by: Dave D.   2007-03-26 19:57  

#8  The EU is merely doing what it has always done: Namely, prinking about, canape in hand, bewailing how uncooperative this world's thugs, despots and tyrants continue to be in the face of their effete incompetence. They did it with Hitler. They did it with Stalin and his communist ilk. And they're doing it with the entire rogue's gallery of Islamofascist gangsters. Plus ce la meme chose
Posted by: Zenster   2007-03-26 19:50  

#7  "Less talk. More action."

And even more to the point, QUIT SCREWING AROUND AND START GETTING RESULTS.

Posted by: Dave D.   2007-03-26 19:24  

#6  A hits B

Maybe, but it's more like a caressing finger drawn across a cheek by a scantily clad woman standing on a street corner than anything else.

Too soft. Everyone looking around to see what everyone else thinks they ought to do in an area where whatever is politcally correct rules and what is practical takes a back seat. Less talk. More action. Don't worry about what the neighbors think, do what is right for you.
Posted by: gorb   2007-03-26 17:53  

#5  "Since when has Iran EVER been part of the "international community"?????"

IIUC they were an early member of the League of Nations, and founding member of the UN. So for quite a long time, Id say.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2007-03-26 10:12  

#4  nothing mushy headed about this at all.

A hits B.

A says "Ready to talk?"

B shakes head.

A hits B.

A says "ready to talk? If you are, there might be a carrot"

saying "ready to talk?" isnt spineless, its part of the strategy. The idea is to use sanctions to lever Iran into stopping enrichment. So if they want to come and talk about stopping enrichment, thats FINE (with the understanding that the sanctions escalation process will continue as long as they ARE enriching)

Now if you guys thought the sanctions are being supported by the Europs, not to stop enrichment, but to overthrow the govt of Iran, than you have seriously misread the situation. And if you think Merkel can afford rhetoric that will alienate much of the German public, and the third world, you are also mistaken.

Implied in Merkels statement is that if the Iranins DONT come back to the fold, the sanctions will be ratcheted up AGAIN. Merkel is right on board with the plan, and is doing, AFAICT, all the right things.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2007-03-26 10:11  

#3  "If Iran returns to the fold of the international community..."

Huh???? WTF is this mushy-headed, sponge-brained, inclusive, nonjudgemental, multi-culti, "Everybody's Beautiful In Their Own Way" crap? Since when has Iran EVER been part of the "international community"?????

These damn liberals are gonna get us all KILLED with this dimwittery.

Pfeh.

Posted by: Dave D.   2007-03-26 07:09  

#2  If Iran returns to the fold of the international community, we are ready to give generous offers to them.

Did she just say what I think she said?

Oh, BTW, missed one:
Posted by: gorb   2007-03-26 06:03  

#1  Merkel - Why?
Posted by: 3dc   2007-03-26 03:05  

00:00