Iran in the WTO?!?!

bitwhys · Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 649

U.S. and EU Strategy on Iran Converging - Rice

Quote:
By Arshad Mohammed

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday U.S. and European views on how to deal with Iran's nuclear program are converging, a sign Washington may be closer to backing incentives for Tehran.

"I think we are really coming to a common view of how to proceed," Rice said when asked about European diplomatic efforts to persuade Iran to give up its suspected nuclear arms program.

"We are examining what means we might be able to use to contribute to the (European) efforts at success. ... We are looking for ways to more actively support that diplomacy," Rice said as she flew to Mexico.

Britain, France and Germany want the United States to support Iranian entry into the World Trade Organization and the sale of aircraft spare parts to Tehran to give Iran an incentive to give up its suspected pursuit of nuclear arms.

The United States can effectively block Iran from joining the WTO and from importing aircraft parts with substantial U.S. content, making U.S. support vital if Iran is to get either incentive.

While deeply skeptical the diplomacy will work, U.S. officials have said they want to give it the best chance of success and also to protect themselves from blame if it fails.

The United States accuses Iran of using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to develop nuclear weapons. Iran denies this, saying its nuclear program is for peaceful power generation.

"I want to be very clear that this is really not an issue of what people should be giving to Iran. This is an issue ... of keeping the spotlight on Iran, which ought to be living up to its international obligations," Rice added.

Signs that the United States might back incentives for Iran first emerged last month during President Bush's visit to Europe, a trip in which Washington tried to mend fences with European allies who had opposed the Iraq war.

I had no idea that was even on the table. I know they've sought Canada's support as well but I don't know where our government stands on it.

I think this is going in the wrong direction. Putting the cart before the horse. Giving the Mullah this sort of credibility on the world stage will totally undermine any momentum the democratic movement in Iran has.

There's got to be a better way.

bitwhys · Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 649

Iranian protesters removed from Lufthansa jet

Quote:
BRUSSELS, Belgium — Police on Friday said they'd removed a group of 56 unarmed passengers of Iranian origin encamped on a Lufthansa jetliner who'd said they wouldn't leave until the United States and other nations signed a pledge not to help Iran's "Islamic regime of mullahs."

Police spokeswoman Els Cleemput said some 90 officers were used to remove the 56 protesters from the aircraft, which was moved away from the terminal after negotiations failed to end the protest action.

A spokesman for the protesters earlier said they were on a hunger strike and were prepared to die for their cause of overthrowing the Islamic government in Tehran, but police said the Iranians were not on a fast and had eaten on board the plane.

"We want the European countries, also the United States and Russia to stop helping the Iranian regime," the group's spokesman, who identified himself only as Ira, told The Associated Press in a call from the aircraft.

The standoff began after the Lufthansa jetliner arrived from Frankfurt, Germany, at 3 p.m. Police said 56 of the 103 passengers refused to leave the plane, declaring they were on a protest against "this Islamic regime of mullahs."

"We want these leaders to stop supporting terrorist regimes any longer . . . to get rid of this Islamic regime or any kind of radical brutal religious movement from Iran," said Ira, who said he was an American national and a psychiatrist from New York.

He said the protesters wanted the United States, the European Union and Russia to sign a pledge to stop co-operating with the Iranian government.

"We are just sitting here we are not going to move out unless embassy officials from the United States, English and others come to sign our statement and guarantee us that if we go out of here they don't arrest us," he said.

Ira, who said he was originally from Iran and was 60 years old, said the protesters were trying to highlight their support for the late shah of Iran and wanted to draw attention to Iran's problems.

"We are not terrorists, we are messengers of peace," Ira said, adding that his group, which he called Anjoman-E Padeshahi Iran, wanted the overthrow of Iran's government.