Posted on 01/16/2006 6:42:27 PM PST by blam
Iran crisis talks expose west's split with China
· Europe seeks Tehran's referral to security council
· Major obstacles remain in row over nuclear weapons
Ewen MacAskill and Nick Paton Walsh in Moscow
Tuesday January 17, 2006
The Guardian (UK)
Differences between the west and Russia and China were exposed yesterday during a meeting in London to discuss strategy for tackling the crisis over Iran's suspected nuclear weapons programme. After seven hours of talks Britain, France and Germany announced they are to seek Iran's referral to the security council at a meeting on February 2 and 3 of the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Javier Solana, the EU foreign affairs chief, said he was "confident" Russia and China will back the referral.
But both countries expressed serious reservations about future handling of the crisis, in particular the prospect of the security council imposing sanctions on Iran. Russia, though slowly shifting towards the west's position, is still holding out hope that Tehran may yet accept a compromise. China, which has close economic ties with Iran, is the most hardline in opposing tough action against Tehran.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
I don't think we were ever together with China. Therefore, we can't split from them.
Does this mean that China is not our friend? I am astonished.
My guess? Russia's a swing and China goes with Iran.
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