BELGIUM: EU says it welcomes Iran's surprise proposal to return to negotiations on a nuclear fuel swap without conditions shortly after the EU slaps tough sanctions on Iran

Record ID: 574789

  • Title: BELGIUM: EU says it welcomes Iran's surprise proposal to return to negotiations on a nuclear fuel swap without conditions shortly after the EU slaps tough sanctions on Iran
  • Date: 27th July 2010
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (JULY 26, 2010) (REUTERS) EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF CATHERINE ASHTON ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE ASHTON LOOKING AT PAPERS JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF, CATHERINE ASHTON ON IRAN, SAYING: "Today the foreign ministers adopted new restrictive measures against Iran because of this concern, because of the failure to comply with the UN Security Council resolution and the IAEA board resolution and due to so far the lack of engagement in meaningful negotiations. This package is robust, its comprehensive. All the key areas including energy are included, they go beyond the security council requirements but they follow the same logic. They target people, companies and sectors directly and indirectly involved in Iran's nuclear programme, in making, transporting, financing and supporting those programmes." JOURNALISTS JOURNALIST SITTING DOWN (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF CATHERINE ASHTON, ON FUEL SWAP DEAL, SAYING: "As far as I can see this is to be welcomed. Of course we need to study the detail. I've heard about as much as you have at this point which is the bare bones of the statement. As far as its there, we welcome it." ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER FRANCO FRATTINI AT NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALIST TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (French) ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, FRANCO FRATTINI, SAYING: "What Europe wants to tell Iran: we are waiting for negotiations, we want negotiations. But, honestly, we need credibility. Up until now, Iran promised to come back, she never did, and we cannot accept that. And I hope that, after Ramadan, in September, Iran will be ready to sit around the table with Europe." ASHTON AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF, CATHERINE ASHTON ON THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS, SAYING: "I am concerned about the lack of progress in the Middle East peace process and in view of the fact that on the 29th we have the upcoming meeting of the Arab League, we've all discussed and agreed that we need to urge the parties to find a satisfactory way to resume as soon as possible direct negotiations on all the status issues, including borders, security and Jerusalem. i think it was very clear from our discussions that we want those negotiations to lead within the framework of 24 months, which as you know were set out in the quartet statement, to a two-state solution, with the state of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable state of Palestine, living side by side with each other in peace and security." JOURNALIST ASHTON LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 11th August 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: International Relations,Energy
  • Reuters ID: LVAEBKW5LONA18MDIALYJBYONWK7
  • Story Text: The European Policy chief Catherine Ashton said in Brussels on Monday (July 26) the EU was slapping strong sanctions on Iran in an attempt to force it back to the negotiating table.
    She said the EU was sending a "powerful message" to Iran because all EU member states were united in their concern about Iran's nuclear programme and that they wanted credible proof it was for civilian and not military use.
    The EU's range of extra restrictions on Iran go well beyond UN sanctions agreed last month and include a ban on dealing with Iranian banks and insurance companies and steps to prevent investment in Tehran's lucrative oil and gas sector, including refining.
    "Today the foreign ministers adopted new restrictive measures against Iran because of this concern, because of the failure to comply with the UN Security Council resolution and the IAEA board resolution and due to so far the lack of engagement in meaningful negotiations. This package is robust, its comprehensive. All the key areas including energy are included, they go beyond the security council requirements but they follow the same logic. They target people, companies and sectors directly and indirectly involved in Iran's nuclear programme, in making, transporting, financing and supporting those programmes," Ashton said.
    Shortly after the EU's new and tougher sanctions were announced, Tehran surprised the EU by saying, through the official Iranian agency IRNA, that it was prepared to return to negotiations on a nuclear fuel swap "without conditions".
    Ashton said she needed to see that report in more detail but, if correct, that she welcomed it.
    "As far as I can see this is to be welcomed. Of course we need to study the detail. I've heard about as much as you have at this point which is the bare bones of the statement. As far as its there, we welcome it," she said.
    Iran last negotiated with the West over its nuclear programme in October 2009 but they produced no breakthrough.
    The question is whether Iran will agree that those talks can look at the possibility of stopping its enrichment programme -- which Western powers believe is aimed at developing nuclear weapons -- or whether it will try to focus them on a fuel swap, without any commitment to halting uranium enrichment.
    The European Union says these latest sanctions are intended to get Iran back to negotiations over its uranium enrichment programme, holding out the possibility that talks could be held before the end of the year.
    Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said it was also a sign that the EU was fed up with waiting for Iran to show up at promised talks.
    "What Europe wants to tell Iran: we are waiting for negotiations, we want negotiations. But, honestly, we need credibility. Up until now, Iran promised to come back, she never did, and we cannot accept that. And I hope that, after Ramadan, in September, Iran will be ready to sit around the table with Europe," Frattini said.
    The EU also talked about the Middle East peace process and demanded that Israel and the Palestinians stop attacks and return to negotiations with the aim of establishing 2 states living in peace within two years.
    "I am concerned about the lack of progress in the Middle East peace process and in view of the fact that on the 29th we have the upcoming meeting of the Arab League, we've all discussed and agreed that we need to urge the parties to find a satisfactory way to resume as soon as possible direct negotiations on all the status issues, including borders, security and Jerusalem. i think it was very clear from our discussions that we want those negotiations to lead within the framework of 24 months, which as you know were set out in the quartet statement, to a two-state solution, with the state of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable state of Palestine, living side by side with each other in peace and security," she said.
    Ashton just returned from her second visit to the region and said she had demanded Israel lift further restrictions on the passage of goods in and out of Gaza and that she had also demanded the release of an Israeli prisoner held by the Palestinians.
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