Italy backs Iran's nuclear bid if peaceful

The Daily Telegraph (Australia) ^ | 31AUG06 | The Daily Telegraph

[familyop]

THE Italian Foreign Minister said today that Iran's desire to develop nuclear energy is "legitimate" provided the goal of the program was for "peaceful purposes".

"If Iran is looking to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, it is not only legitimate, but can also clear the way for cooperation" with other countries, said Massimo D'Alema.

He stressed that Iran's nuclear program must be peaceful.

"We must work so that Iran does not build a nuclear weapon," he said.

The comments by Italy's top diplomat came one day before a deadline set by the UN Security Council for Iran to halt its uranium enrichment work.

If it does not meet this deadline, Iran will face possible sanctions.

Enriched uranium is needed for nuclear fuel but can also be used to build nuclear weapons.

"We are in a delicate period and we have to look for clarification" from Tehran about its nuclear program and offer it "security guarantees", Mr D'Alema said.

He also said that while being firm and clear with Iran, it was necessary to make a "true offer of negotiation" because "it is difficult to convince someone if at the same time he is being threatened".

The group of six major powers negotiating the Iranian nuclear standoff – the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany – have made the suspension of uranium enrichment work a pre-condition for opening talks on expanding cooperation with Iran.

[familyop]

The "security guarantees" mentioned involves Iran's demand that the US government formally agree not to use military force under any circumstances.

...related:

Rome, Paris can 'cooperate' on Iran
ANSA (Italy) ^ | 02SEP06 | ANSA (Italy)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1694212/posts

[goldstategop]

The US should refuse to give such a guarantee. No one can predict what Iran will or will not do in the future. If they break their word but we are bound to ours, we're going to be sitting ducks leaving ourselves open to attack. And we don't speak for the Israelis.

(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )

[DoughtyOne]

When, not if, Iran blows these European clowns off the map, I'm going to remember these times and barely miss a beat. These folks have about as much forsight as a corpse.

[goldstategop]

If the Italians believe Iran will restrict its nuclear activities to producing electricity, they're in denial. If Iran was pursuing peaceful nuclear activities, there would be no debate about what they're doing. Iran is pursuing "uranium enrichment" for one and one reason only. Only fools and the deluded accept the preposterous notion that's an innocent objective. I leave it up to my fellow posters to judge whether Italy's Foreign Minister is either a fool or deluded or quite possibly both in his view of Iran's nuclear program.

(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )

[4rcane]

get the europeans to support Israel to join Nato or EU. Forcing the Europeans to defend Israel if attacked by Iran. If they want peace and they can trust Iran words, they got nothing to fear, right? right???

[Alex1977]

Many of us doesn't know that in Italy now there is a leftist prime minister, closely friend to Spain (Zapatero) and French (Chirac). IMO, that explains much.

[Alex1977]

Many of us doesn't know that in Italy now there is a leftist prime minister, closely friend to Spain (Zapatero) and French (Chirac). IMO, that explains much.

[DoughtyOne]

Interesting idea, but I doubt seriously whether the E.U. would go for it. Hamas or Hezbollah maybe, but forget Israel.

[Nitro]

Italy...great food... cooked by cowards.

[DB]

They don't believe it for a moment.

They just don't want to actually risk losing money or lives to change it.

They also don't believe that they'd be on the receiving end of any nuclear exchange with Iran.

So they just continue on their merry way down the road to oblivion.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

What's a matta you?...Gotta no respect!....

[familyop]

"Many of us doesn't know that in Italy now there is a leftist prime minister, closely friend to Spain (Zapatero) and French (Chirac). IMO, that explains much."

Yes, and D'Alema the canole-man can't see through his cheese hat to know that Iran has missiles that will reach Rome (BM-25s after modification back to Russian configuration).

[familyop]

"What's a matta you?...Gotta no respect!...."

...probably less respect than you thought. See comment #12, right after yours. ;-)

[WestVirginiaRebel]

How it should be done:

"Mr. Ahmadinejad? We've been sent here to 'Negotiate.'"

[bill1952]

Nato refused to help us in any way at all in the Iran conflict.

Europe wiped Jewry off the face of the Continent They would throw the Israeli people to the wolves and do absolutely nothing as they were exterminated.

As allies, they are useless.

[goldstategop]

Agreed. At the end of day - we'll start the "negotiations" the Soprano way and when we're finished, every one will know we meant business.

(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Get Pauly..... (Crime Story)...must be running around Vegas somewhere...Hey Boss what you want me to do???

[familyop]

Oh, I see! And I mispelled cannoli in the comment that I referred you to. It's a pastry and sometimes a crude reference to something else.

[familyop]

...cannolo, even (singular instead of plural).

[browardchad]

They also don't believe that they'd be on the receiving end of any nuclear exchange with Iran.

The Vatican's a mighty tempting symbolic target.