Posted on 09/17/2007 11:08:42 PM PDT by Cincinna
MOSCOW, Sept. 17 — France sent another strong message to Iran on Monday, announcing that it would work to set up European sanctions modeled on those by the United States if the United Nations Security Council failed to agree on tougher measures.
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner of France, en route to Moscow for his first meeting with his Russian counterpart on Tuesday, emphasized “credible” sanctions as the best tool that the West has to resolve the standoff diplomatically. He had caused some alarm Sunday by discussing the prospect of war with Iran; he later softened his tone somewhat, but not his sense of urgency.
At the same time he made no secret of the fact that he believed a United Nations resolution was unlikely. He said several European countries, including France, Britain and the Netherlands, were in favor of additional European sanctions.
The measures, he said, would be focused on the business and banking sector, aiming to reproduce the kinds of sanctions used against South Africa’s apartheid government decades ago. The kind of sanctions being considered in Paris would deal with business and financial transactions, according to a senior diplomat with direct knowledge of the initiative. Measures could include blocking certain bank accounts and inhibiting European companies from bidding for contracts in Iran, at a time when the country is desperate for development.
Since similar measures were put into effect by the United States, some Iranian businesses and individuals have been forced to move their transactions from dollars into euros. They now are vulnerable to European sanctions.
A hardening of France’s attitude toward Iran was articulated this month when President Nicolas Sarkozy warned of the “catastrophic” choice between the “Iranian bomb and a bombardment of Iran” if sanctions failed.
(Excerpt) Read more at select.nytimes.com ...
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner speaks for his boss, President Nicolas Sarkozy.
He is reading the riot act to Iran, and at the same time to the UN, knowing full well, the UN cannot be trusted.
With the election of Nicholas Sarkozy, there has been a diplomatic revolution in France in its relations to the rest of the world. Finally, true Frenchmen have a voice after 70 years of Communist repression and corruption!
That’s a generous and courageous move by France, given the willingness to suddenly do without natural resources and revenues from Iran. I have not seen any news about Italy being willing to help with sanctions (including oil).
Thanks Cincinna.
Us Italians need oil for our hair! Sanctions are out of the question.
It’s strange getting use to this new France...
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