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Last update - 20:44 19/03/2008 Foreign Ministry summons Swiss envoy to J'lem over Iran deal By Assaf Uni, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: iran, europe, gas  Swiss Ambassador to Israel Walter Heffner on Wednesday was called for a meeting in the offices of the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem in response to a deal signed between Switzerland and Iran on Monday for the supply of Iranian natural gas to Europe. General secretary of the Western Europe department of the Foreign Ministry Rafi Barak on Wednesday criticized the visit of Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey to Teheran, calling it an "unfriendly gesture" to Israel. Israeli officials stated that in the current situation, wherein the UN Security Council has passed sanctions against Iran and the international community has mounted concerted efforts to force the Islamic Republic to shelve their nuclear program, it is inappropriate for countries to pursue large scale economic contracts with Iran. Advertisement Barak told Heffner that Iran is "continuing its nuclear program, aiding extremist and terrorist organizations, violating human rights, and denying the right to exist of a United Nations member country [Israel], all the while disseminating anti-Semitism and hatred of Israel." Experts said the deal, which sparked harsh criticism from the United States and is worth an estimated 20 billion euros, may signal a renewed willingness by European companies to do business with Iran in the wake of a U.S. National Intelligence Estimate that essentially eliminated the possibility of an American military strike on Iran. Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey, wearing a traditional Islamic headscarf, attended the signing ceremony in Tehran. She said the deal was needed to diversify Switzerland's energy sources and lower its dependence on Russian gas. Under the agreement - signed by National Iranian Gas Company and the Swiss firm EGL, which is indirectly owned by Switzerland's cantons - Iran will supply Switzerland with 5.5 billion tons of gas a year for 25 years, starting in 2011. The gas is slated to be sent via the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, which has not yet been built. An EGL spokesman told Haaretz that the agreement "does not contravene the [United Nations] sanctions [against Tehran], since we aren't investing in Iran." He also noted that other European gas firms are considering buying from Iran as well - an apparent reference to Austria's OMV, which signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran last year to purchase gas worth 20 billion euros. That deal must still be finalized. France and Britain have taken a harder line, recommending that their national gas companies not sign any new deals with Iran. Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi, who heads the Brussels-based Transatlantic Institute, said the Swiss deal was "a direct result of the American National Intelligence Estimate." "The report's publication changed the trend in Europe," he said. "For the past year, most European companies have been in waiting mode. They checked details, examined possibilities, but refrained from finalizing commitments. But following the report, the business perception changed and the pressure on Iran was lifted. If a respected country such as Switzerland, which cares about its international status, is ready to travel to Tehran to sign an agreement, what will other countries think? What will other international corporations think?" The American embassy in Bern published a statement on Monday denouncing the deal, saying it sent "precisely the wrong message at a time when Iran continues to defy UN Security Council resolutions." Even if the deal does not violate the letter of UN sanctions, the statement added, it "violates the spirit of the sanctions." The Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities also expressed disappointment with the deal, as did Israeli officials. A Swiss journalist who covered the deal, who requested anonymity, told Haaretz that the U.S. had tried repeatedly to stop it, but "Switzerland feels that it is backed by the European Union, and by the real needs of its residents." Barak Ravid contributed to this report. Related articles: Iran hardliners likely to win Fri. vote after reformists barred from running ANALYSIS: Admiral's break with Bush on Iran lands him on the outs Iran leader calls on Muslims to hit Israel 'in face' over Gaza op Bookmark to del.icio.us   Declassifying AIPAC Two former pro-Israel lobbyists charged with revealing secret info. to Israeli diplomats. Jersualem pilgrimage Christian pilgrims flock to Holy City to mark Good Friday and retrace the route of Jesus.   1.   Switzerland was always no friend of the Jews or the west. 06:34  |  Dish It Out 19/03/08   2.   Swiss Are Amoral (& in that sense immoral) 06:41  |  Brad 19/03/08   3.   How Much Did US Offer to Supply? 07:10  |  Mark of Lewiston 19/03/08   4.   Brad - Canada Counter Offered What? 07:14  |  Mark of Lewiston 19/03/08   5.   Well said, #1 07:26  |  US CITIZEN 19/03/08   6.   Kudos for Switzerland for rejecting international arm twisting 07:27  |  Natallie Durson 19/03/08   7.   Good job Micheline Calmy-Rey! 07:58  |  sania 19/03/08   8.   Canadians are amoral ( & in that sense immoral) 08:03  |  Peter 19/03/08   9.   The price of Neutrality 08:56  |  Proud Israeli 19/03/08   10.   I THOUGHT THEY WERE NEUTRAL!!! 09:07  |  Ben Uziel 19/03/08   11.   intelligence estimate 09:20  |  Peter 19/03/08   12.   BRAVO, SWITZERLAND 09:35  |  indrajaya 19/03/08   13.   #4 NO kudos to Nazillie Dur d`oreille 09:37  |  Hastaroth 19/03/08   14.   So much for sanctions 09:48  |  Clickfool 19/03/08   15.   Kol ha kavod, felicitations dear Switzerland 09:58  |  Chanalau, Tova 19/03/08   16.   Switzerland puts the interests 10:08  |  Paul Wood 19/03/08   17.   We all need a strong Iran 11:02  |  MiddleStanian 19/03/08   18.   Switzerland to US - Our Business is None of Your Business 11:03  |  Johan Odin 19/03/08   19.   SO WHAT, BABY? 11:14  |  indrajaya 19/03/08   20.   Sorry Etzis, but what do you have to offer? 11:27  |  Andreas 19/03/08   21.   # 1, DISH IT OUT 11:27  |  indrajaya 19/03/08   22.   The swiss 11:52  |  raden 19/03/08   23.   Bravo Switzerland 12:29  |  Mouseclick 19/03/08   24.   smart swiss 12:34  |  laddy 19/03/08   25.   The Swiss are wrong 12:38  |  Samuel Hyman 19/03/08   26.   Bravo Switzerland!The U.S. can go to hell! 12:52  |  lakshmi 19/03/08   27.   "spread" the rumor. UBS is BUST ! Steer UBS collapse ! 13:08  |  boycot Switzerland 19/03/08   28.   swiss are free, sovereign..not subject to Jewish domination 13:32  |  Swiss 19/03/08   29.   Pipeline isn`t built 13:40  |  Lynn 19/03/08   30.   #25 Samual Hyman 13:42  |  Paul Wood 19/03/08   31.   yes, it`s a hot rumor. they will fall 13:43  |  UBS rumor 19/03/08   32.   Maybe Americans can dump their SUV`s 13:44  |  Mark B. 19/03/08   33.   Why reward Iran now? 13:48  |  Swiss 19/03/08   34.   # 29, LYNN 13:52  |  indrajaya 19/03/08   35.   # 32 Mark B...SUV sales have dropped 14:06  |  Lynn 19/03/08   36.   # 34 INDY....US had zero to do with Russia 14:11  |  Lynn 19/03/08   37.   Lynn 14:20  |  Mark B. 19/03/08   38.   THE SWISS HATE MUSLIMS,BUT LOVE MONEY MORE 14:27  |  JEFF 19/03/08   39.   SWITZERLAND ever the amoral opportunists,synonym for dirty money 14:37  |  PETER SM 19/03/08   40.   # 38, JEFF 14:37  |  indrajaya 19/03/08   41.   Lynn, I do not want to be obnoxious, but 14:39  |  Mark B. 19/03/08   42.   Yes, we are friendly with the Fiddlers..! 14:49  |  Stephen. 19/03/08   43.   I am swiss 17:13  |  Ruedi 19/03/08   44.   to Jeff, comment 38 18:10  |  Ruedi 19/03/08   45.   Dish it out: No friends of the Jews OR THE WEST? 19:53  |  Euro 19/03/08   46.   The usual foamimg ... 20:07  |  Axel 19/03/08   47.   #43, Ruedi, Schaem Dich! 20:08  |  Chaschper 19/03/08   48.   Well said, Ruedi 20:24  |  Harold 19/03/08   49.   Chaschper 20:39  |  Gil 19/03/08   50.   Nuke Switzerland! 21:05  |  W 19/03/08   51.   Materialistic, narrow-minded hypocrites. 21:26  |  Fortuna Benmayor 19/03/08   52.   Israel, GROW UP!! 21:49  |  Yaakov Sullivan 19/03/08   53.   THERE WILL NOT BE AN IRAN BY 21:51  |  mike 19/03/08   54.   #46 Axel 21:59  |  roland 19/03/08   55.   Ruedi 22:05  |  Oleg 19/03/08   56.   Ruedi - about Jews and money 22:09  |  Oleg 19/03/08   57.   Iran nuclear weapon is nightmare for Arabs nations 22:15  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 19/03/08   58.   Iran nuclear weapon is nightmare for Arabs nations 22:15  |  e.m.Jordan is Palest 19/03/08   59.   # 49 Gil. 22:17  |  Stephen. 19/03/08   60.   # 47 chaschper 22:29  |  Axel 19/03/08   61.   ruedi 22:32  |  charles 19/03/08   62.   Switzerland doesn`t want to be dependent on Russia for gas 22:52  |  Mirqa 19/03/08   63.   Caschper - comment 43 23:17  |  Ruedi 19/03/08   64.   Oleg - comment 55 23:22  |  Ruedi 19/03/08   65.   Iran will send the Swiss radioactive gas 23:24  |  HonestAbe 19/03/08   66.   # 61 charles 23:28  |  Axel 19/03/08   67.   Doesnt Mark Rich live there? 23:30  |  jc 19/03/08   68.   I know only too well, why I stayed away from this thread..... 23:31  |  Swiss (Dino) 19/03/08   69.   the World should Stop cuz the ziocons say so 23:32  |  jc 19/03/08   70.   Charles - comment nr 61 23:34  |  Ruedi 19/03/08   71.   Yaackov Sullivan Says Two Wrongs Make a Right 23:56  |  Yaakov Sullivan 19/03/08   72.   Grizzling Israel - again! 00:07  |  Maureen Ann 20/03/08   73.   Israeli lack of realism 00:58  |  Axel 20/03/08   74.   swiss 01:04  |  keith 20/03/08   75.   Response to #21 Indrajaya the idiot 01:53  |  Dish It Out 20/03/08   76.   Swiss banks: no names, only numbered accounts 02:07  |  Marcelo 20/03/08   77.   Good for Iran 02:12  |  Sia 20/03/08   78.   RUEDI "Jews own 30% of the world money"?? Your sources 02:30  |  PETER SM 20/03/08   79.   # 54 roland 02:34  |  Axel 20/03/08   80.   CHANALAU cheers trade with Iran who for no reason attacked Brit. 02:34  |  PETER SM 20/03/08   81.   # 41 Mark B....so many tourists and their money 03:18  |  Lynn 20/03/08   82.   Swiss Minister wearing Islamic cover! 03:23  |  Yuri 20/03/08   83.   Haaretz 03:29  |  Ruedi 20/03/08   84.   ANDREAS.Swiss offer the white sheep kicking out the black. 03:48  |  PETER SM 20/03/08   85.   Pipelines 05:30  |  Gemma 20/03/08   86.   Israel complains...... 05:30  |  Johnboy 20/03/08   87.   #51 Well! Now. I. Have. Heard. Everything. 05:39  |  Johnboy 20/03/08   88.   Aggressive, Jihadist????? 05:42  |  Gemma 20/03/08   89.   The low life scumbag nazi Swiss are a disgrace to the human race. 06:27  |  Joseph 20/03/08   90.   Thank you , Swiss for breaking the spirit of the bullies 06:47  |  Dutch 20/03/08   91.   the europeans aren`t stupid! 06:55  |  eric 20/03/08   92.   Outrageous 07:23  |  Gordon 20/03/08   93.   To Mark and Peter 07:30  |  Gordon 20/03/08   94.   To foolish Israel: We europeans are no sheeps you could 07:58  |  Kris Lazar 20/03/08   95.   GEMMA.Nobody should have to employ their potential murderers 08:03  |  PETER SM 20/03/08   96.   SIA"Israel is only 14000 sQ/KM.Iran1.8 million Square kilometers" 08:08  |  PETER SM 20/03/08   97.   As Keith says Swiss, you guys are in it to isolate Israel 08:51  |  x-ray 20/03/08   98.   eric I think your world does revolve around Israel 08:52  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 20/03/08   99.   Ruedi 08:57  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 20/03/08   100.   ruedy 11:34  |  charles 20/03/08   101.   ruedi 11:43  |  charles 20/03/08   102.   the pot calling the kettle... 23:28  |  Groove Dem 20/03/08   103.   Damn Social Democrat 23:41  |  Steve 20/03/08   104.   Swtitzerland to US 23:59  |  Akhtar Rasheed Malli 20/03/08   105.   #79 06:09  |  roland 21/03/08   106.   # 98 to margie in tel aviv 08:51  |  eric 21/03/08

Today Online Hezbollah: We have proof Israel killed Mughniyah Responses: 82 Gideon Levy: Blind int'l friendship enables Israel to kill, settle Responses: 18 Editorial: Swiss gas deal with Iran a disgrace, like WWII neutrality Responses: 12 Zvi Bar'el: U.S. has turned Iraq into Iranian dependent Responses: 8 Uzi Benziman: Halakhic concepts in public discourse threaten democracy Responses: 6 Rosner's Domain U.S. govt. to appeal ruling on classified material in AIPAC trial I've known my rabbi for more than 20 years... (WTR) Poll: Mideast summit in Moscow, a good idea? There's no need for American pressure on Israel Jewish connections in the NCAA (WTR) More Headlines 13:47 Peres: We won't cede Golan only to have Iran, Syria control Lebanon 15:15 Jerusalem official denies reported truce offer to Hamas, Jihad 14:10 PM: Israel to send back refugees who infiltrate from Sinai 14:36 Shi'ite mourners hail Mughniyah as martyr at Beirut gravesite 15:25 Ethiopian activist: Integration failed, separate schools needed 15:36 Hamas, Fatah officials in Yemen agree to revive direct talks 12:35 Christian pilgrims flock to Jerusalem to celebrate Easter 15:45 Israeli singer Yael Naim embraces Apple, Britney Spears for success 14:33 Saddam collected information on dozens of potential targets in Israel 08:42 ANALYSIS: Unofficial Gaza cease-fire benefits everybody 14:20 Egypt frees 34 Palestinians imprisoned after border breach 13:09 TASE opens strong as traders expect BoI to cut interest rates 13:55 Man sentenced to 9 years in jail for assualting 4 elderly women Previous Editions Select Day 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar

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