France FM: UN sanctions on Iran not likely before June
EU leaders says consensus 'emerging' in bloc on taking unilateral action over Iran's nuclear program.
By Reuters Tags: EU Israel news Iran nuclearA United Nations resolution on new sanctions against Iran may not be ready until June and if a vote on it fails, European states could take unilateral measures instead, French and Finnish ministers said on Sunday.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said France remained determined to get UN backing for sanctions targeting Iran's nuclear program, but indicated that the support of Russia and China among the five permanent Security Council members was some way off.
"We are ... talking and talking, trying to get an agreement by negotiation and at the same time working on sanctions. I believe that yes, before June it will be possible, but I'm not so sure," Kouchner told reporters during a foreign ministers' retreat in northern Finland.
"Before June I hope, but who am I to hope or decide," he said, pointing out that France had originally hoped to get a UN sanctions package prepared in February, when it was chairing the Security Council.
If the United States, Britain, France and Germany - the four leading the drive for sanctions that are expected to target Iranian banks and senior members of the Revolutionary Guard - fail to secure UN backing, the EU looks likely to join the United States in imposing unilateral sanctions.
Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, who is hosting a weekend gathering of foreign ministers from the EU and Turkey in Lapland, said on Saturday there was "consensus enough" in the EU for unilateral sanctions and said it would be discussed at the next EU foreign ministers' meeting on March 22.
On Sunday he reiterated that point, although clarified it by saying that consensus was only "emerging". That clarification came after a morning of discussions with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who opposes sanctions on Iran.
"Failing [UN sanctions], I think there is an emerging consensus inside the European Union that we will take some unilateral measures from the EU side," Stubb said. "What those exact measures are have not been discussed in detail."
The United States and its allies believe another round of sanctions is needed to prevent Iran making further progress on its nuclear program, which Iran says is for peaceful energy and medical purposes but the West says is for weapons.
Kouchner said the measures France wanted included sanctions on Iran's banks and insurance companies, and said it should also involve revoking travel permits for specific people. But he said it would not target the Iranian people or the energy sector.
"We are not talking about blocking the exportation [of oil products] from the Gulf of Hormuz, even if some strategic people are thinking about it," he said. "It will be simple, clear and economic."
Davutoglu, who has visited Iran several times to try to broker a uranium exchange deal that might prevent the need for sanctions, said he had had an open exchange with his colleagues, including EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton, on the Iran nuclear issue and remained convinced sanctions were wrong.
"We shared our views and we are trying to develop a common approach," he said when asked if he had managed to convince his EU counterparts that sanctions on Iran were the wrong track.
"I believe there is room for diplomacy and the European Union can play a significant role. If there is good strategic cooperation between Turkey and the EU, that will help not only the Iran nuclear issue but all other regional issues in the Middle East and the Balkans," he said.
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# 9 Ted frm. Canada. Wouldn't that be poetic justice !? Some historians put the figure of Jews,massacred ,killed & gassed during the 1,9oo years of exile well over Two hundred & fifty million dead. Had they been left alone to live their lives normally. Most were slaughtered by what later became known as Christians. Europe was the killing ground. And if you say that Israel might,under certain circumstances blow Europe to smitheerens then that would be,'Poetic Justice' Why go far ? Golda Meir,when she visited Pres. Nixon at the White House asking for arms in the middle of the Yom Kippur war.(Israel's position was dire) She said that this time Israel will hold hands with the world. Get it !? No Gassing. No Killings. No Raping. No Extracting gold teeth frm, the dead. No Robbing No Lying, ARBEIT MACHT FREI.
Some thouths after reading an article called: "Israeli Historian: Israel Could Find Itself Forced To Wipe Out Europe" March 12, 2010 http://www.politicaltheatrics.net/ it became apparent that some people can think that the sanctions are needed to target Israel's nuclear program and to prevent Israel making further progress on its nuclear program Noted Israeli military historian Martin Karfeld stated that Israel could find itself one day forced to exterminate the European continent using all kinds of weapons including its nuclear arsenal if it felt its demise neared, stressing that Israel also considers Europe a hostile target. This came in a press interview broadcast by the seventh Hebrew radio and was translated on Wednesday into Arabic by the press information analysis and study center. ?We have hundreds of nuclear warheads and missiles that can reach different targets in the heart of the European continent, including beyond the borders of Rome, the Italian capital,? Karfeld said, adding that most of the European capitals would become preferred targets for the Israeli air force. (...) http://www.politicaltheatrics.net:80/2010/03/israeli-historian-israel-could-find-itself-forced-to-wipe-out-europe/
Ever since Saddam's fall in 2003, Iraq's trade relationship with Iran has been increasing. In 2008, Iraq did $4 billion in business with Iran. It was the same in 2009. By the end of 2010, the estimate, due to a series of new agreements, is $8 billion. Much of this trade is backed by US taxpayer money. Iraq continues to undermine the US policy towards Iran, only because no one wants to admit that over 4000 Americans died in a war which only benefited Iran.
Hey wake up! June...july...august...it's too late. At this time Iran already has a bomb, and Israel and US MUST CHOOSE another country to threat. It's very simple. If I have an atomic bomb, no other country MESS WITH ME. Just like US an USSR, India and Pakistan. You guys can flash your weapons to another country - Syria perhaps but HURRY UP, co's sonner or later they will have an A bomb.
Most Europeans and even the British people do not want to sanction and starve Iranians as happened to Iraqi's. We recognise the benefits of trading our way out of this recession that only the bankers have benefited from. In Europe today the Jewish background of our politicians is coming under scrutiny because of the Iraq war and all that has been suffered since. Kouchner does not carry French opinion and Miliband of the UK is in the same position. This is the legacy of the so called Jewish lobby in the united States. The world has had enough of neo-liberal globalised frauds, lies and endless war. Forget about joining EU, Israel is not European you must stop dragging the world into the problems of your own making. Even the American people are waking up and questioning their politicians subservience to AIPAC. This does not bode well for Israel or Jews anywhere. Make peace with your neighbours, fit into the region you CHOSE to live, stop trying to make the region fit around you.
How Come That some of the Ugliest people are anti-semites,anti-Jews,anti-Zionists,anti Israel. See just 2 examples out of so many: Ashton & Ahmadienjad. Really, just look at them ! In the Temple of, 'Temple Mount' People with blemish were not allowed to enter,so as not to defile the place. The priests wanted to preserve the place: "The Holy on Holies" as pure as possible. The reasoning behind; People with blemish,or who are handicapped will more often than not blame society,their parents or any easy target. They will want to take revenge in some way or the other. The Ancients knew a thing or two about human behaviour. Wait for a continuation of harmful decisions being thrown in the direction of Israel. Don't you ever believe that they will change their mode of thinking. They have enough material to oil the wheels of hate til the day they die.
Despite very spirited efforts by the Europeans (mainly French and German) to campaign to put heavier pressure on Iran. Actually it is very "unfrench" thing what France does, but then again Sarko being a very untypical and "unfrench" president, things novadays in France are pretty "unfrench".
of gasoline, maybe they can use uranium to fuel their cars.
So now it's June for sanctions????? Last year it was "no later then December". December came and went-it became the end of January...Then it was by the end of February....then March...now its June...ok meanwhile Iran is making a bomb!!! Apparently some heads need to be extracted from some asses!!!
The US has for years frustrated the majority GA membership by casting its veto on resolutions that everyone else supports. Now it's their turn to taste that frustration!
Messrs. Kouchner and Stubbs, and Ms. Ashton Need a can for their plans to be trashed in. They are all being had by Ahmadinijad, Who just needs his whole enterprise bashed in.
The UN ones face three hurdles, each bigger than the last. First, getting Russia not to veto, then getting China not to veto, then scraping up the 9 votes in favour. As for the EU ones, while there are a few strong lobbyists for sanctions, there seems to be opposition as well. There could be enough pressure from those lobbyists to overcome the resistance, but I'm thinking the most likely scenario is scattered countries unilaterally trying to sanction, while the rest wait for a mediator to recommend such, and if the mediator is someone like Brazil, no such recommendation will be forthcoming.