Germany And France Agree On Approach To Iran
BERLIN, Nov 12 (AFP) Nov 12, 2007
President Nicolas Sarkozy said Monday that France and Germany both agreed fresh sanctions may be necessary to force Iran to abandon sensitive nuclear work.
“We are on the same wavelength: no nuclear weapons for Iran,” Sarkozy told reporters after talks here with Chancellor Angela Merkel, that also touched on how the European Union could reduce trade relations with Tehran.
“Germany and France believe in the usefulness of sanctions,” Sarkozy said.
Merkel said the two countries had the same approach to the dispute with Iran, adding that a new round of UN sanctions may be necessary to stop Tehran from pursuing uranium enrichment.
She said there was also “broad agreement” on the need to urge China and Russia — two permanent members of the UN Security Council — to back punitive measures.
Germany is one of Iran’s most important economic partners and Merkel said she and Sarkozy had also discussed how EU-Iranian trade ties might be recalibrated in the event of Tehran’s continued defiance.
Sarkozy and Merkel each held talks with US President George W. Bush last week that concluded with calls for a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear dispute.
Germany plus the five members of the UN Security Council — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — have engaged in fraught negotiations with Iran for years to convince it to stop enriching uranium, which can be used to generate energy but also to make an atomic bomb.
The United States and several of its European allies believe Iran is trying to develop a nuclear weapon, a charge Tehran has repeatedly denied.
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So when these sanctions fail…then what?
November 12th, 2007 at 5:23 pm“Germany and France believe in the usefulness of sanctions,” Sarkozy said.
I would have preferred if you both agreed on the uselessness of sanctions.
November 12th, 2007 at 5:59 pm“Brainwashing in the ranch”
euh, all that bluff is “façade”, better watch what’s going on in the back yards
November 13th, 2007 at 1:48 am