EU Should Take First Step toward N-Disarmament
Angelika Beer, the co-chairperson of the EU delegation for relations with Iran, in an exclusive interview with Siasat Rooz criticized EU for not having a united security policy and asked them to bring the first step toward nuclear disarmament.
***
The Lack of EU Security Policy
Angelika Beer, co-chairperson of the East-West-Institutes Parliamentarian Network for conflict prevention and human security in an exclusive interview with Siasat Rooz daily criticized the dangerous gap and the lack of a united security policy among EU members and asked them to start the nuclear disarmament from EU.
“After the last enlargement now, we are 27countries, there is a road back inside the EU to a kind of nationalism in the politics, so that means it is more difficult than before to get common positions and we have inside Europe different development rate. Some states are very fast and some states are very low in development” she said.
She described the EU member’s gap extensive.”In my view, the reason of the gap is not Washington policy because after the government change and now we recognize that Barack Obama tries to change the international politics, to get new contents in Islamic world and also in relation with Russia, But EU is not ready to follow that way because it is not unique,” she said.
“The reason is not in Americans, the reason is inside EU and that is a very dangerous situation,” Beer added.
Former member on the delegation for relations with Afghanistan and the Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly spoke about the changes taken place inside EU. “EU has changed. we need a new transatlantic partnership between the Americans, the European as well as Russia and there are some proposals from the president Medvedev and It is necessary to have an open discussion about future of security in the whole world. Obama and Medvedev are ready to do that but the EU union has no confirmed security policy, so there is a lack of policy inside the European Union.
Answering a question about G20 Pittsburg Summit and its results, this former EU parliamentarian pointed to her mission in International Parliamentarian Network for Conflict Prevention in the east-west Institute, and said: We stated an international theory to the leaders from G20 to spend more money on conflict prevention even if they have the economic crisis, so our aim as a parliamentarian network for conflict prevention is not to discuss only about the financial situation but our demand is to spend more money for disarmament and conflict prevention”.
“Of course, conflict prevention can help, we have the experience in Balkans but also in Afghanistan, let me say in Iraq that wars cost much more than the politics”, she said
Turkey Membership in EU; a Success
Answering a question about his idea about Turkey formal membership in EU and the oppositions, she added: “In my view, it might be a success for EU and also for Turkey to become a member of the EU union, because also in the region Ankara plays a very good role and an important one”.
“Some in EU are afraid of and are discussing about Islamic countries membership in EU but this view can not be accepted but in my view, it is totally wrong because for example Kosovo as a country with a Muslim majority has been recognized as a state in Europe and a candidate for EU union membership; so I would perceive to have Turkey as soon as possible as a member of the EU union”, former chair of the EU parliamentarian delegation for relations with Iran stated.
Pointing to Uk Prime Minister, Gordown Brown promises for decreasing Nuclear Submarines, co-chairperson of the East-West-Institutes Parliamentarian Network for conflict prevention and human security.said “ Europeans have to bring the first steps and to be accountable and in this way, other countries can believe that Europe is one of the first partners that will start the nuclear disarmament in their own countries And the second is that running on between Medvedev and Obama, they are negotiating about the start treaty, So there are different ways to reach the aim and that means also to have an instrument against proliferation”.
Speaking about Nuclear Disarmament, he stated: “ In my view, at first I should say that it is possible to have a nuclear free zone for a free world that means also that NPT is experiencing an important period, there will be the decision about the future of our world .
Militarism against Iran;Dangerous
“Our demand from the politicians and international community is that the responsible presidents in the whole world not to think about a military operation against Iran. Moreover, we ask them to support the civil society inside Iran and so that is very clear there is a danger about making the response mistake, I don’t know which one, the situation is unstable in the moment and nobody knows what happens,” she said.
“The first point is that the European union governments stopped the discussion about sanctions because they didn’t want to thread the negotiations before they started, so that means, the first of October negotiations was a great success because the Americans were on the table officially, first time” Beer said, emphasizing on Iran right for gaining Peaceful Nuclear Energy.
Beer, ignoring US unconditional support for Palestine occupiers, admired Americans ME policy and continued: “ Barak Obama tried to bring the Israeli officials and the Palestinians together, that is a step forward which we recognize as a good one because to prevent an arm conflict in the whole area it would much be easier to control the problems for the Palestinians at first that means the tow state solution at least between Palestine and Israel and to speak about the disarmament in the whole region and the nuclear free zone”.
Responding a Question about the reasons behind EU support for Israel Crimes in Palestine Beer said” Because I am a German I should underline that Germany was responsible for the second world war, in the past we have killed most of the Jaudish people living in Germany”.“I think that on the one side the Palestine, the different parties have to formulate a common sense that means the split between Mahmood Abbass and other groups is a problem to solve it in a good form.
Palestine issue has one solution which nobody can ignore.
That is recognizing what obama posed to Syria, that is Syria is not the road state, Syria will be a partner in discussions to find a peaceful solution. That’s important and also the Israeli government have to continue the international standard and to stop the current policy against the Palestinians in Gaza,” former Europe Greens representative in EU parliament said.
This former EU parliamentarian also criticized Iran officials for what he called double standards for supporting Palestine and oppressing their own opposition.
MKO; Undemocratic
Speaking about the EU decision for getting MKO (Iran opposition in exile) from EU black list, co-chairperson of the East-West-Institutes Parliamentarian Network for conflict prevention and human security stated: “
It was a court decision at first, after the European union followed that position. In my view it’s a question for justice and not a political one, because everybody wants to be informed about MKO, understands very well that this organization is neither democratic one nor oppositional one and the most important thing is that we are not to speak about the court decision but to make clear that the MKO can not be a partner for democratic politicians like I am and to isolate them, so that means I think its not important what happened on the justice side but it Is very important to make clear that the MKO, its more organization that is not parting in civil society in Iran and often which claim that Tehran should be attacked ,that’s unacceptable and it is not an organization that one can trust.
Angelika Beer is a German politician and a former Member of the European Parliament for Alliance ‘90/The Greens, part of the European Greens. She was chair of the delegation for relations with Iran and a member on the delegation for relations with Afghanistan and the Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the Foreign Affairs committee and the Subcommittee on Security and Defense. In January, she was not reelected on a place on the EP election list. She has left the Green Party end of march 2009. Now, he is co-chairperson of the East-West-Institutes Parliamentarian Network for conflict prevention and human security.
Interview By: Hamdollah Emadi Heidari
Monday, November 9, 2009
Nuclear technology is Iran’s right: Georgian ambassador
TEHRAN, Oct. 25 (MNA) -- Georgian Ambassador to Iran Giorgi Janjgava here on Sunday called nuclear technology the Islamic Republic’s right and said that his country strongly “supports Iran’s involvement in Nabucco gas pipeline project.”
Visiting the booth of the Tehran Times daily and the Mehr News Agency at the 16th International Press Festival, the ambassador said, “All countries, especially Iran, have the right to have peaceful nuclear activities and make use of nuclear technology.”
“Georgia fully supports Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities,” Janjgava said, calling for eradication of all atomic bombes from around the globe and establishment of a world free of nuclear weapons.
He also referred to the Islamic Republic’s important role in the region and the world, stressing the need for Iran’s more active presence in the Caucasus region.
“There is a great potential for growth of political, economic, and cultural relations between Tehran and Tbilisi,” the ambassador stated, urging expansion of bilateral ties between the two neighboring countries.
Commenting on the Nabucco pipeline project, he spoke of his country’s full support for Iran’s participation in the project.
“Affiliation to Nabucco is an issue upon which Iran can reflect deeply, and also discuss it with the project’s European parties,” he noted.
The Nabucco gas pipeline project is designed to pump Central Asian gas via Turkey to Austria and Germany through Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary, bypassing Russia. Gas supplies through the pipeline are expected to start in 2014.
The project will be a continuation of the existing Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline and will transport 20 billion cubic meters of gas a year. Two-thirds of the pipeline will pass through Turkish territory.
Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Iraq are being touted as potential suppliers.
Iran has the world’s second largest gas reserves after Russia and the second biggest oil reserves in OPEC after Saudi Arabia.
The Nabucco pipeline is seen as a rival to the Moscow-backed South Stream project designed to annually pump 31 billion cubic meters of Central Asian and Russian gas to the Balkans and onto other European countries, with the pipeline’s capacity expected to be eventually increased to 63 billion cubic meters annually.
Europe has expressed concerns about being dependent on Russia, which supplies a quarter of its gas needs. Calls for diversified supplies intensified following a recent bitter price dispute between Russia and Ukraine in early 2009, when Moscow cut off gas to Ukraine, affecting consumers across Europe.
Moscow has argued, however, that South Stream and Nord Stream would cut EU dependence on transit states like Ukraine and improve European energy security.
The 16th International Festival and Fair of Press and News Agencies opened in Tehran on October 20 and will be closed today.
Visiting the booth of the Tehran Times daily and the Mehr News Agency at the 16th International Press Festival, the ambassador said, “All countries, especially Iran, have the right to have peaceful nuclear activities and make use of nuclear technology.”
“Georgia fully supports Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities,” Janjgava said, calling for eradication of all atomic bombes from around the globe and establishment of a world free of nuclear weapons.
He also referred to the Islamic Republic’s important role in the region and the world, stressing the need for Iran’s more active presence in the Caucasus region.
“There is a great potential for growth of political, economic, and cultural relations between Tehran and Tbilisi,” the ambassador stated, urging expansion of bilateral ties between the two neighboring countries.
Commenting on the Nabucco pipeline project, he spoke of his country’s full support for Iran’s participation in the project.
“Affiliation to Nabucco is an issue upon which Iran can reflect deeply, and also discuss it with the project’s European parties,” he noted.
The Nabucco gas pipeline project is designed to pump Central Asian gas via Turkey to Austria and Germany through Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary, bypassing Russia. Gas supplies through the pipeline are expected to start in 2014.
The project will be a continuation of the existing Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline and will transport 20 billion cubic meters of gas a year. Two-thirds of the pipeline will pass through Turkish territory.
Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Iraq are being touted as potential suppliers.
Iran has the world’s second largest gas reserves after Russia and the second biggest oil reserves in OPEC after Saudi Arabia.
The Nabucco pipeline is seen as a rival to the Moscow-backed South Stream project designed to annually pump 31 billion cubic meters of Central Asian and Russian gas to the Balkans and onto other European countries, with the pipeline’s capacity expected to be eventually increased to 63 billion cubic meters annually.
Europe has expressed concerns about being dependent on Russia, which supplies a quarter of its gas needs. Calls for diversified supplies intensified following a recent bitter price dispute between Russia and Ukraine in early 2009, when Moscow cut off gas to Ukraine, affecting consumers across Europe.
Moscow has argued, however, that South Stream and Nord Stream would cut EU dependence on transit states like Ukraine and improve European energy security.
The 16th International Festival and Fair of Press and News Agencies opened in Tehran on October 20 and will be closed today.
Iran not meddling in Afghanistan: Afghan politico
TEHRAN, Nov. 9 (MNA) – An Afghan party chief has rejected Western claims that Iran is interfering in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
Mohammad Hassan Jafari, the secretary general of the Afghan National Welfare Party, told a roundtable discussion hosted by the Mehr News Agency that such accusations by the West are attempts to cover up their failures in Afghanistan.
“Westerners accuse Iran of interfering in Afghanistan’s affairs while the Islamic Republic itself is a victim of terrorism and even in a single case in 1998 it lost 11 diplomats and a reporter,” Jafari said in a reference to the murder of Iranian diplomats at a consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif by the Taliban.
The party chief said Iran and Afghanistan share 900-kilometer border and “the Islamic Republic is seeking security in Afghanistan because it considers security in the country as security in its borders.”
Pointing to Iran’s support for Mujahedin groups in the fight against the Soviet Army, he said, “Iran’s support for Kabul has been unprecedented and unique.”
Zohouri Hosseini, an expert on Afghanistan, said Iran’s involvement in the reconstruction of the war-stricken country should not be interpreted as interference.
Hosseini said Iran is among major countries which have made some commitments in international conferences to help rebuild the country.
The expert went on to say that the Afghan Shia community, which constitutes about 30 percent of the country’s population, and even half of the Sunnis are interested in Iran.
At a time that Christian missionaries are propagating their religion in Afghanistan it is Iran’s right to interact with a nation which shares language, cultural and religious commonalties.
He said interaction with Afghanistan is different from interference as exercised by the West’s military and political intervention in the Central Asian country.
After the Mujahedin defeated the Soviet Army they intended to establish an Islamic Republic like the Islamic Republic of Iran and in order to prevent such a thing from happening the West supported Taliban to suppress the Mujahedin as a modern Islamists.
Ali Vahedi, also an expert on Afghanistan, also said accusation of interference in Afghanistan is a desperate attempt by the West to justify its failure in Afghanistan.
Vahedi said claims of interference in Afghanistan by Iran are not something new and such accusations were leveled against Tehran during the Soviet occupation of the country in the 1980s.
He said since the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan no government in Kabul has said that Iran has been interfering in the country.
“Contrary to the West’s relations with Afghanistan which have been of colonial nature Tehran’s relations with Kabul has always been fraternal.”
Iran has suffered greatly since the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 by hosting millions of refuges. Iran has also been the main victim of drug trafficking from Afghanistan.
Mohammad Hassan Jafari, the secretary general of the Afghan National Welfare Party, told a roundtable discussion hosted by the Mehr News Agency that such accusations by the West are attempts to cover up their failures in Afghanistan.
“Westerners accuse Iran of interfering in Afghanistan’s affairs while the Islamic Republic itself is a victim of terrorism and even in a single case in 1998 it lost 11 diplomats and a reporter,” Jafari said in a reference to the murder of Iranian diplomats at a consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif by the Taliban.
The party chief said Iran and Afghanistan share 900-kilometer border and “the Islamic Republic is seeking security in Afghanistan because it considers security in the country as security in its borders.”
Pointing to Iran’s support for Mujahedin groups in the fight against the Soviet Army, he said, “Iran’s support for Kabul has been unprecedented and unique.”
Zohouri Hosseini, an expert on Afghanistan, said Iran’s involvement in the reconstruction of the war-stricken country should not be interpreted as interference.
Hosseini said Iran is among major countries which have made some commitments in international conferences to help rebuild the country.
The expert went on to say that the Afghan Shia community, which constitutes about 30 percent of the country’s population, and even half of the Sunnis are interested in Iran.
At a time that Christian missionaries are propagating their religion in Afghanistan it is Iran’s right to interact with a nation which shares language, cultural and religious commonalties.
He said interaction with Afghanistan is different from interference as exercised by the West’s military and political intervention in the Central Asian country.
After the Mujahedin defeated the Soviet Army they intended to establish an Islamic Republic like the Islamic Republic of Iran and in order to prevent such a thing from happening the West supported Taliban to suppress the Mujahedin as a modern Islamists.
Ali Vahedi, also an expert on Afghanistan, also said accusation of interference in Afghanistan is a desperate attempt by the West to justify its failure in Afghanistan.
Vahedi said claims of interference in Afghanistan by Iran are not something new and such accusations were leveled against Tehran during the Soviet occupation of the country in the 1980s.
He said since the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan no government in Kabul has said that Iran has been interfering in the country.
“Contrary to the West’s relations with Afghanistan which have been of colonial nature Tehran’s relations with Kabul has always been fraternal.”
Iran has suffered greatly since the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 by hosting millions of refuges. Iran has also been the main victim of drug trafficking from Afghanistan.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)