Europe restates support for Iran nuclear power

IrelandOn-Line ^ | 14MAY06 | IrelandOn-Line

[familyop]

European Union foreign ministers are tomorrow expected to restate the bloc’s willingness to help Iran develop a civilian nuclear power program if the Islamic republic agrees to international controls to ensure it will not build atomic weapons.

A meeting document posted on Friday on the EU’s Website said the ministers were likely to express the Union’s, ”preparedness to support Iran’s development of a safe, sustainable and proliferation-proof civilian nuclear program, if international concerns were fully addressed.”

The EU and the US fear Iran’s nuclear research program is a cover for the development of nuclear weapons. Tehran says the program is peaceful and its only aim is to generate nuclear power.

The Europeans are seeking to build on a package of economic and political incentives offered to Iran in August last year in return for a permanent end to uranium enrichment activities.

Iran rejected that deal, but EU governments have continued to offer sweeteners to try to persuade Iran to bring its nuclear program into line with international demands, as well as pushing at the United Nations for measures that could lead to sanctions if Iran refuses.

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog welcomed the EU moves.

“European Union is preparing a package of proposals to present Iran which is a positive thing because as I have always said a solution, a comprehensive solution, to the Iranian issue needs to address all the issues of security, economics trade, etc.,” Mohammed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said yesterday.

Germany, France and Britain – who are leading the European efforts – are working to outline possible advantages Iran might be offered if it complied with international demands. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Friday that the EU was seeking to pave the way for the resumption of negotiations with the Iranians.

Meanwhile, Iran’s president has won support from fellow Muslim leaders for his contested uranium enrichment program, as he told the world there was no reason to be nervous about his nuclear ambitions.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in Indonesia that he has co-operated fully with the UN nuclear agency and was willing to hold talks about the deepening international stand-off with anyone except long-time foe Israel and countries who hold “bombs over our heads.”

The hard-line leader made the comments yesterday after meeting heads of state and prime ministers from Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Turkey and Malaysia and government ministers from Egypt and Bangladesh.

Though they were on the resort island of Bali to discuss ways to boost economic and political cooperation, alleviate poverty and restructure debt it was impossible to ignore Iran’s intensifying nuclear stalemate with the West.

Fears that Iran is trying to build nuclear warheads were aggravated on Friday, when diplomats said UN inspectors may have found traces of highly enriched uranium on equipment from an Iranian research centre linked to the military.

[frankiep]

Europe is not really in danger of Iranian nukes since we have no real conflict with them.

....and the award for the Most Ignorant Head in the Sand Statement of the Decade goes to......

I didn't think that there were people who were really this clueless about radical islam. Apparently I was wrong.

[frankiep]

Besides of that we started several times to rebuild our countries from complete scratch after the world wars and in less than 50 years we managed to do quite well again.

Due in very large part to the financial and military backing of.....damn, which country was that again?

[Firefigher NC]

I concur.

[Firefigher NC]

"When Europe starts a country from scratch, and in less than 150 years that nation becomes the strongest, wealthiest, most innovative, most productive, and most generous in the world's history, then we just might heed their advice. Until then, Europe should stick to making cheese and adult beverages to satisfy the American palate."

Most awesome quote of the day. That's going in my profile, credits to you of course.

[Atlantic Bridge]

I just know that America is the greatest country in this world's existence. This is nothing more than a fact.

Anyway it is great if we all start a contest to be the greatest country in this world's existence. That has certainly some positive effects on this tiny planet. :-)

But those Europeans who think their precious "continent" is the exemplar of civilization are sadly deluded.

Hehe! The ignorance to accept performances of others in a wave of national pride is widespread. No matter if we talk about the US or Europe. You sound quite simular to some people on our side of the Atlantic. The same argumentation but the countries are exchanged.

I try to take the best of everything and do not care about national feelings too much. Pragmatism is the key to success. If some people need their daily dose of national chauvinism - I can live with them perfectly but they are for sure not able to impress me much.

[Billthedrill]

If America want to solve the problem alone, we Europeans are really happy if you start doing it.

Ah, no, my FRiend. You're not getting away with that one. In point of fact, the United States has deferred to the EU diplomatic efforts in that regard which have come up embarrassingly barren. The negotiations that were supposed to show the world a superior, enlightened approach to this have, instead, been reduced to European whimpering that Iran may have anything it likes so long as they continue to talk, which they will. And develop.

The United States should not have to solve this thing unilaterally. That Europe seems to hope that we will is absolutely disgraceful. That Europe also hopes to place the blame for an Iranian nuclear weapon on the United States is beyond disgrace, it's downright hilarious.

[Atlantic Bridge]

Due in very large part to the financial and military backing of.....damn, which country was that again?

Yep! The US. The right investment in the right time was what made your country that great. No question about that.

[himno hero]

nawww,

the euros just parrot the upsell of peaceful purposes

of course thats what they are really up to, thats what they said

and hens have teeth

[jla]

Anyway it is great if we all start a contest to be the greatest country in this world's existence.

That'd be akin to a European nation, or any other, putting a donkey in the gate against Secretariat.

[Billthedrill]

Oh, and by the way, how embarrassing and futile is the EU effort? This Embarrassing.

[Atlantic Bridge]

The United States should not have to solve this thing unilaterally. That Europe seems to hope that we will is absolutely disgraceful.

My post was meant as an sarcastic answer to #3 in this thread. Of course we Europeans have to help to solve this crisis.

[frankiep]

The question is, will Europe be willing to help doing the heavy lifting that will almost certainly be necessary? Recent history would suggest that the answer is 'no'.

[Billthedrill]

My apologies.

[RinaseaofDs]

Israel won't allow it, and Europe knows it. Why stretch their neck and threaten to have the spigot turned off when the Jews will pay the bill for them.

The Jews can't allow Iran to get the bomb. It's just that simple.

This is Europe ramming it to the Jews again. They are declaring that they WILL stand by yet again and let another holocaust occur.

[cfrels]

Do you think you will be safe in Europe somewhere appeasingor ignoring Iranwith nuclear weapons?

[Dave Elias]

"Can't anybody here think their way out of a paper bag?"

Cool, Telekenesis...I'd like to see that..

[cfrels]

Sorry Atlantic Bridge, about not proof reading my post to you....that would be "appeasing or ignoring Iran with nuclear weapons"

[cfrels]

BACK TO THE TOP.....

[KellyAdmirer]

BTW - Europe is not really in danger of Iranian nukes since we have no real conflict with them. We are simply not their enemies until now.

Do you really believe this? Did Europe have "any real conflict with them" during the two sieges of Vienna? Do you really think those crazies are going to distinguish between American Christians/Jews (i.e., infidels) and European ones in the end?

I submit that ignoring threats so that you can do "normal business in the meantime" is pretty similar to what the Europeans did in 1938. I sure hope you have learned something since then.

[Atlantic Bridge]

This is Europe ramming it to the Jews again. They are declaring that they WILL stand by yet again and let another holocaust occur.

This is definitly wrong. We did more for Israel than anybody else recently since we gave them the second-strike-abillity:

The former German chancellor Helmut Kohl decided to equip Israel with 2 new Dolphin Class submarines for free after realizing the eminent threat through Iraqi chemical weapons in the early 90ties. In 1995, Germany and Israel finalised an agreement for a third submarine, that was paid by half through Germany.

In the fall of 2005, Israel and Germany reached an agreement for the purchase of two additional submarines from Germany. One third of the 1 billion euro cost will be donated by Germany while the rest will be paid for by Israel. These boats are exptected to be similar to the advanced Type 214 or Type 212A submarines, modified to about 2,000 ton displacement and propelled by AIP systems. Press reports have also indicated that Israel is interested in outfitting its existing Dolphin fleet with AIP systems and other upgrades.

The Dolphin class is a non-nuclear type of submarine developed and constructed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW) for the Israeli Navy. It is the predecessor to and similar in design to the German Type 212 submarine. The Dolphin boats are considered to be some of the most sophisticated and capable conventional submarines in the world. Since the US have no modern conventional submarines in their production Israel is reliant on European deliveries, since they lack the technology and abilities to build such advanced equipment on their own.

The Dolphins are equipped with the nuclear armed Popeye Turbo cruise missle system. This gives Israel a nuclear second strike abillity against agressive countries like Pakistan, Iran or Syria and is a fundamental part of the security of Israel. It is the sure one way ticket to hell for all Mullahs who think that they could wipe out jews and judaism on this planet. More helpful than all unrealistic dreams about "beheading-strikes" with inapplicable Israeli planes in Iran or elsewhere.

Since the ships were by large parts a German gift(!), there is no reason to whine about bad bad Europe. The whining level is on a all-time high. Maybe we Europeans are not consent with every American or Israeli operation but we try to be helpful.