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IRAN: NUCLEAR NEGOTIATOR WARNS EUROPE

Tehran, 29 Nov. (AKI) - In a extensive interview with the Tehran-based Mehr news agency, Javad Vaidi, the head of the Iranian delegation which will meet with representatives of the three European Union countries of Britain, France and Germany on 6 December, has warned that Iran is only interested in the negotiations if there will be the recognition of its right to conduct uranium enrichment, a process which can be used in the development of nuclear weapons.

"As was anticipated by Ali Larijani, the secretary general of the Supreme Council of National Security, these talks could go forward only and exclusively in the case that there is a recognition of the Islamic Republic's right to complete its uranium enrichment plant" Vaidi, said. “We will not sit at the negotiating table with the three European countries, if there are pre-conditions of this type," Vaidi, Larijani's deputy added.

Vaidi also warned that if in the course of the coming meeting of the governors of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), the issue of Iran is included as part of the agenda to be dealt with, "the Islamic republic will immediately abandon the negotiating table."

"We are against these talks that do not have a specific aim and we believe that in no case is it possible to negotiate on our rights to enrich uranium in our plants," said Vaidi.

Vaidi stressed that his country has already rejected the European proposal to transfer the uranium enrichment to a foreign country.

In conclusion, Vaidi said that "without the support of Russia and China, Europe and the United States could never refer the case of Iran to the United Nations security council."

Iran had frozen all work at Isfahan late last year under a deal with France, Britain and Germany but resumed work in August after Tehran rejected an EU offer of trade and other incentives in exchange for a cessation of fuel work and resumed uranium conversion, which is a precursor to enrichment work.

The IAEA last month passed a resolution submitted by Britain, France and Germany, which paved the way for Iran to be reported to the UN Security Council over its nuclear activities.

The EU countries and the United States are concerned that Iran's uranium enrichment programme could be used to build weapons. Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful and designed to meet its energy needs.

Iran had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) late October that it planned to process a new batch of uranium without giving a specific date and earlier this month confirmed that it had begun the process at its plant in Isfahan.

Link:
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Security&loid=8.0.234617206&par=0

More proof that Sharon needs to retire and is fighting Israel's WOT using the Bush open border/appeasement strategy.

Nov. 29, 2005 18:55 | Updated Nov. 29, 2005 19:25

Senior Hamas operative crosses into Gaza Strip
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

Only days after the Rafah border crossing was reopened, another senior Hamas operative who previously lived abroad crossed back into the Gaza Strip.

Fadel Zahar is the first high-ranking Hamas official known to return to the Gaza Strip since the border crossing was reopened last Friday. His brother, Mahmoud Zahar, is the top leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Fadel Zahar was deported from the Gaza Strip in 1991 along with three other top Hamas operatives: Imad Alami, Mustafa Kanu, and Mustafa Liddawi. Since then Zahar has been living in Sudan and Syria, where other Hamas leaders are located.

Meanwhile, Hamas on Tuesday won elections for the student council at An-Najah University. The victory is seen as a major blow to the ruling Fatah party, whose members won 34 seats as opposed to 40 for Hamas-affiliated students. The student council consists of 81 seats.

Sources at the university said that more than 84 percent of the 13,000 students participated in the vote.

As soon as the results were announced, hundreds of Hamas activists and supporters took to the streets of Nablus, Tulkarm and Jenin to celebrate the victory.

Many Hamas members who have been living in different Arab countries have returned to the Gaza Strip since Israel relinquished control over the Rafah terminal. Last week, shortly before Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas inaugurated the border crossing, another Hamas activist crossed the border into the Gaza Strip.

Rafik al-Hasanat, a senior member of Hamas who has been wanted by Israel for more than a decade, arrived through the Rafah crossing after it was opened briefly to allow stranded Palestinian passengers on the Egyptian side to return home.

Hasanat belonged to Izzaddin al-Kassam, the armed wing of Hamas; he fled to Egypt in 1993 after he learned that the IDF was searching for him because of his involvement in terror attacks. Since then he has been hiding in Sudan, Yemen, Libya and Jordan.

Hundreds of Hamas activists, chanting slogans in support of the Islamic movement, welcomed Hasanat as he arrived home.

Sources close to Hamas said many of its activists, including top leaders, have managed to return to the Gaza Strip since the Israeli pullout. Last month one of the founders of Hamas, Sheikh Ahmed al-Milh, returned to the Gaza Strip after spending 20 years in different Arab countries.

Shortly after the Israeli withdrawal, three top Hamas fugitives infiltrated into the Gaza Strip. One of them, Nihro Masoud of the Jabalya refugee camp, was one of the founders of Izzaddin al-Kassam. He fled to Egypt 14 years ago and spent most of his time in Sudan.

Link:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1132475649015&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull