Middle East News
Iran mum as EU, Russia welcome Obama's offer of fresh start
By Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa Mar 20, 2009, 14:16 GMT
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks at the inauguration ceremony of conference on the Palestinian territories in Tehran, Iran on 04 March 2009. The European Union and Russia welcomed US President Barack Obama\'s offer to Iran on Friday for a new start, with the US commitment to engagement, not threats, in its pursuit of diplomacy. EPA
The European Union and Russia welcomed US President Barack Obama's offer to Iran on Friday for a new start, with the US commitment to engagement, not threats, in its pursuit of diplomacy.
Obama, in a message to Iranians early Friday, said the effort could not be one-sided, suggesting the people of Iran also 'have a choice' about whether they take their 'rightful place in the community of nations.'
'That place cannot be reached through terror or arms but rather through peaceful actions that demonstrate the true greatness of the Iranian people and civilization,' Obama said.
There was no immediate official reaction in Iran, where there was a public new year holiday, to Obama's offer made in remarks broadcast by the Voice of America's (VOA) Persian News network, which is widely viewed by satellite in Iran.
Moscow said it saw no signs that Iran's nuclear programme has a military purpose while Brussels described the US offer of direct talks with Tehran as 'very good' and 'very constructive.'
An Iranian presidential press advisor, who holds no official position, reacted coolly to the offer and just reiterated the stance of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that the US should change its policies in practice before approaching Iran after three decades of diplomatic estrangement.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed, in a pre- recorded message released Friday, to continue the country's nuclear work, saying: 'The (nuclear) progress in Iran in the last (Persian) year has been significant and its continuation will bring the Iranian nation further international recognition and credit.'
'Our local experts succeeded to have a huge progress in nuclear technology despite international sanctions and will pave the way for further progress in this regard,' said Khamenei, who in line with the constitution, has the final say on all state affairs in Iran.
Obama's message reflected his promise of diplomacy and engagement with Iran made through his 2008 election campaign and marked a stark departure from his predecessor George W Bush, who refused to deal with Iran's leaders.
Last year at Nowruz, Bush delivered a brief New Year's greeting, then lambasted Iran's leaders in a VOA interview over the country's uranium-enrichment programme, which has provoked three rounds of UN sanctions.
Obama did not mention uranium enrichment but noted that the United States has 'serious differences that have grown over time.'
Javier Solana, the EU's top diplomat, who heads international negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme, on Friday said Obama's offer was 'very good'.
'I hope very much that Iran will react intelligently,' Solana told journalists in Brussels.
'I hope very much Iran will pay good attention to what has been said by President Obama. I hope this will open a new chapter in the relations with Tehran,' he said.
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, reacting to Obama's message said Russia still sees no sign that Iran's nuclear programme has military purpose, and welcomed the steps taken by Obama's administration to renew dialogue.
'We still believe that at this point in time there are no signs that this programme has switched to a military purpose ... and in this we are in full solidarity with the conclusions presented in the latest report of the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),' Ryabkov told reporters.
'It is very important to us that the new US administration is taking steps to meet Iran part-way in the political-diplomatic sphere. We consider this optimal,' he said.
As Russia nears completion of Iran's first nuclear power plant at Bushehr, the US and many Western European countries have not dropped long-held suspicions that Tehran's civilian nuclear programme serves as a cover for ambitions to build atomic weapons.
Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned of the continuing threat from Iran of acquiring nuclear weapons and serving as a base for terrorist attacks.
Iran's nuclear programme is expected to be one of the top questions on the agenda when Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev hold talks on the sidelines of the G20 summit in London in April.
According to Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, 6,000 centrifuges were currently operating in the Natanz plant in central Iran and the country is expected to increase the number of the centrifuges to 10,000 by April and run 50,000 centrifuges within the next five years.
Tehran has so far defied international demands, including three UN Security Council resolutions together with sanctions, to stop its enrichment programme.
Iran has said that the West, including its arch-foe, the US should acknowledge Iran's international right to pursue nuclear technology, including uranium enrichment, as signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and member of the IAEA.
Tehran has indicated it is ready to remove all international concern that its nuclear work is solely for civil purposes and generating electricity and has welcomed the presence of the US in the negotiations but rejects any preconditions prior to the talks.
Ahmadinejad, in his pre-recorded Nowruz message broadcast on state television, said the last Persian year had been 'full of victory' for the Iranian nation.
'Our resistance (against world powers) have earned us big political and technological achievements and confirmed Iran's extraordinary status in the world and furthermore strengthened the country's independence,' he said.
'The world powers have reached a dead-end, both ideologically and in practice, and their latest failure was the global economic crisis,' the president said.
'From now on just countries which seek liberty, independence and justice will have a bright future,' he added.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
... well, it probably all depends if Obama is seeking an equal relationship or just some free press time on the issue.
For example: Will Iran be allowed as many nukes as the U.S. ? How about 2,000 nukes for Iran?
... or are we already back peddling to a relationship of inequality where Iran is prohibited from seeking equal power to the U.S.
I detect a heap full of hypocrisy and underhandedness. I doubt this fake stance of the olive branch will go anywhere.
'Brriiing' Playtime again!
Sister lance of the Immaculate Misconception, ultimate authority on everything under the sun is back! Bless us sister, for we are doubled up with laughter at your acumen.
..the olive branch is also used to wipe one's ass.
'smart power'...smart...yeah, right...
Gods, first 'Stan' arrives then 'Ollie' shows up!
Playtime indeed!
'I doubt this fake stance of the olive branch will go anywhere.'
I know where it should go, (_*_), but we would have to surgically remove Rance's head from there first.
'...the olive branch is also used to wipe one's ^ss.'
Speaking of ^sses, how are you doing? Wiped-out on drugs, again, I see.
'I detect a heap full of hypocrisy and underhandedness.'
I detect the stench of a heap of rotting compost. Oh, that's just you, Rance. Well then, that's easily fixed. There, the toilet is flushed. Bye, bye, Rance. Have a nice trip.
Iran continues to broadcast to world media it's readiness to alleviate world concerns and the IAEA continues to await fulfillment of the claim. It's like a skipping record player.
This 'new start' should be great news for Iran. More talk is good when you are playing for time. The shame is that should Iran develop nuclear weapons, no-one directly/indirectly responsible for preventing it will ever be accountable.
I'm happy to let Obama play his hand on Iran.
Why the hell not?
Its not as if we are going to invade them.
'... The shame is that should Iran develop nuclear weapons ...'
And what is wrong with Iran developing nukes?
The U.S. is the demonstrated aggressor in the world with two ongoing wars. Iran is a demonstrated peaceful nation, relatively speaking.
By U.S. standards, a fresh start would mean this:
(a) All nations can have an equal amount of nukes, say 2,000 each.
(b) All nations can occupy other nations an equal amount, say two occupations and mass killings of other nations per decade.
(c) All nations can rack up trillion dollar deficits which will create financial chaos once it reaches say 30-40 trillion dollars.
Anything else is shear hypocrisy and is not a new start at all.
lance you must be Russian. You can't carry any extended thought without drawing comparisons, or contrasts with the US ... your obsession.
FLIP FLOP! Playtime again!
More unravelled trash from the master of comedy, Sister trance!
BUT
For a really good laugh visit the Science page (Stem Cell Research article) where messiah lance has set forth arguments of great erudition and consistency! NO, Really! Here are some of the better excerpts!
“Even the gods chooses to flush (at least) two out of three abortions and embryos down the toilet. Most abortions are natural!”
(LA-la, Mar 18th -11:59:40)
Well, there speaks the voice of experience, eh lanced! (abortion is, in fact, induced miscarriage, and therefore not ‘natural’ in this context, but rather, a conscious act.)
Earlier he had said;
“It is obvious that the Vatican wants embryos to go in the garbage. There is no question about it. They value life even less than their nemeses: scientists.”
(La-la Mar 18th –02:20:56)
OOOh! Those evil catlickers and uncaring “scientists”
But then he went on (and on and on an Onan Onan ooooooo!)
“There is not one choice, but two choices for these embryos:
(a) Flush down toilet or dispose in garbage.
(b) Use in medical miracle research……..
……..Scientists choose (b), others choose (a).”
(La-la, Mar 18th; -11:59:40)
Bless! Perhaps the scientists see some value in life after all.
The Oracle continues,
“About two million babies are flushed down the toilet in natural abortions.
The government needs to install anti-abortion sensors in all toilets, both private and public, to catch the fetus and insert it into a life-chamber for incubation. It can be done!”
(la-la Mar 19th –16:26:29)
ROFLMAO!
Then, only a bit over three minutes later, rancy wancy continues;
“There is no way to preserve embryos, they are disposable biological material that nature (god) designed to be waste product.”
(La-la Mar 19th –16:29:52)
“FLIP”
Here are some other “Pearls;”
“Most people eat corpses, just not human corpses. To me, a human corpse is no different than a cow corpse.”
(One would prefer not to speculate on the uses Sister Lance finds for either)
“Of course, I am a vegetarian.”
(Bless! But is she a Vegan? I thought she came from much further away! In any event, it still amounts to cannibalism in lance’s case. )
”As for your other insipid questions: You better get a hold of your thinking, otherwise you will be going down the path of absurdity. Just one example:”
(Whoooo! ROFLMAO again! Can anyone think of another one?)
The gnomic utterances of the oracle continue!
”The number of natural abortions can be reduced by stringing women up like incubation chambers and injecting them with appropriate drugs.”
(Steady la-la, steady now, I detect a hint of excitement here! Better that sister just continues to worship at the shrine of the Rosy Palm, I think!)
“Millions of embryos can be 'saved' this way with a good deal of medical attention and factory automation of incubation chambers (otherwise known as female humans).”
(Sister, I had not suspected that you were a feminist!)
“There are a lot of things I can do to decrease natural abortion, but the bitches that are stupid won't like it. I could 'save' millions of embryos from abortion simply by regulating their incubation chambers (otherwise known as female humans).”
(All by La-la Mar 19th –19:19:40)
(Yes, a tireless champion of sexual equality and respecter of women in general is our messiah!)
Enough material there to keep an entire faculty of psychiatry beavering away merrily for an entire year!
'... You can't carry any extended thought without drawing comparisons, or contrasts with the US ...'
The article is about the president of the U.S. extending an offer for a new start.
It is a no-brainer that the 'new start' should be defined by how the U.S. behaves.
... you are just another 'willfully ignorant' idiot trying to deflect attention from the U.S.
Essentially, while the U.S. mass kills people, other people (enablers) talk up how other nations are evil and terrorists all the while ignoring what the U.S. does.
Typical 'willfully ignorant' strategy.
Brring! Playtime!
loads of funny material to satirise here!
'The article is about the president of the U.S. extending an offer for a new start.'
No, Rance, this is not true. The THRUST of the story is Iran being silent while the EU and Russia welcome Obama's offer. You have cocked-up and cooked up too many things to be considered anything but a brainless vegetable. As you continue to reach new heights of mental absurdity with a stiffness, a rigidity, of thinking that is well and truly intercoursed, you are mentally circumcized as no other on this planet. You are hereby inducted into the Hall of Shame as a Master the Order of the Hairy Palm, with Blisters and Abrasions. Wear this badge of dishonour as a dis-seminator of the lowest venal, puerile, penile kind.
'you are just another 'willfully ignorant' idiot trying to deflect attention from the U.S.'
No, you moron, it is you who is trying to deflect threads into your version of Hate America and all who sail in her.
'Typical 'willfully ignorant' strategy.'
For once in your misbegotten life, you are correct. Your own words condemn you.
Get back to me when the score changes:
U.S. Nukes : Over 2,000
Iran Nukes : Zero.
Iran is a nuclear peace nation, while the U.S. is a nuclear weapons factory.
The numbers say it all. You hecklers are simply idiots trying to heckle your way into a frenzy - and your are doing a good job at it!
The phenomenon of hecklers on this message board show an important fact:
A nation will be heckled to death at all costs in order to maintain the power status quo. The obvious example is Bush and the U.S. government screaming 'Islamic Terrorists!!!' and then going after vulnerable unrelated nations.
Obviously, with an attitude like that, Iran MUST develop nukes - lots of them, thousands of them, along with delivery technology, in order to be taken seriously.
It is the only way to be heard over the heckling.
Hecklers are their own worst enemy.
'Get back to me when the score changes:
U.S. Nukes : Over 2,000'
It is a good thing that you don't keep score at a ball game. You are so far wrong(as usual), that I am not going to tell you the real score. But it has changed from your 'reality' to the real one.
'You hecklers are simply idiots trying to heckle your way into a frenzy'
No, Rance, I am not a priest. I am not trying to heckle my way into your 'frenzy.' (_*_)
'and your are doing a good job at it!'
Rance can't spell. Rance can't think. Rance is an idiot. What good is Rance for? Doing 'things' by the numbers. 1,2. 1,2. 1,2...
Look up, Rance, look waaaaaay up. It's time for another blessing of yellow rain, pismire.
Rance is his own worst enemy.
... you are so proving my point. Thank you.
Rance shows no concept of the Engrish ranguage.
'The phenomenon of hecklers on this message board show an important fact:'
'The obvious example is Bush'
He's gone, glasshoppah. Long gone. Get with the times, sweetcheeks.
'A nation will be heckled to death '
Other than you being patently absurd, this is better than using jeezus bombs, right, my little cupcake?
'... you are so proving my point.'
Remind us, oh Majestic Pismire. What EXACTLY is your point? What is your raison d'etre? Be precise. Rather than using the word remind, perhaps is should have said: 'Mind us, oh Majestic Pismire.' How can we be reminded, when we haven't been minded in the first place? Do you mind telling us? Are you even able to? Oh, never mind. You are pointless.
Yes, yes. I know.
Even after a nation mass kills and occupies another nation under erroneous circumstances and yells 'TERRORIST!!!' for five years they still don't get it. Even when it is pointed out to them.
The heckler is insane and will not stop. It wouldn't be so bad if they were relegated to a few stray mentally ill people on the internet, but the heckler assumes offices in the U.S. presidency, the U.S. congress, the U.S. state department, the U.S. military, etc. etc.
pathetic.
Thank you for continuing to demonstrate this issue!
'they still don't get it. Even when it is pointed out to them.'
No Rance doesn't does he?
The Rance is an insane and stray vegetable on the internet.
pathetic.
Yes, Rance is.
'... you are so proving my point.'
Remind us, oh Majestic Pismire. What EXACTLY is your point? What is your raison d'etre? Be precise. Rather than using the word remind, perhaps is should have said: 'Mind us, oh Majestic Pismire.' How can we be reminded, when we haven't been minded in the first place? Do you mind telling us? Are you even able to? Oh, never mind. You are pointless.
How are the plans for the crash-proof avionics and control surfaces coming along? Have you gotten anywhere? Or did you crash and burn, there too?
I guess he's off somewhere practising his lessons on the skin flute.
A very short piece I should imagine!
Thru powers vested by the Citizens and Council of the American Republic, we now declare War against the Republic of Iran.
For making slanderous threats against the borders of the United States of America by President Ahmadinejad and his supporters, and the various Mullahs who hide behind the Koran like children. For making threats against the State of Israel and other countries that wish to live in peace. For instigating the elimination of Jews and others of various national and religious origin. For threatening to destroy by Nuclear force all countries that oppose its way. President Ahmadinejad wishes to fulfill a self proclaimed prophecy of stupidity. We will not allow this to happen. When the time is right, our forces will eviscerate and destroy all living things within Iran without mercy or compromise, leaving a country without people or things. The United States of America, the UN, Nato and others are weak and wish to allow this little man from Iran to shout threats with support from his Mullahs. We accept his threats and will act.
We are a Legion of many, who will live a life of peace, and have respect for all living things, while having considerations for those who are different, and look for ways to truly accommodate those who are slow in understanding.
We support the poor, helpless, and defenseless people. We support the freedom of Women, we support the sane treatment of animals and the environment, we support the freedom of religion and expression. We do not support ignorance, period.
We are a growing nation of people that encourage anyone or Nation anywhere to become part of the New American Republic!
Sincerely,
Judah Ben-Hur
Ambassador
The American Republic
American Mujahideen Army Council
Headquarters: United States of America
Er?
Never mind! Have a good kip! It'll all be ok in the morning.
Makes a refreshing change from lancy wancy though, doesn't it!
The most anyone can do is to offer peace and reconciliation. If such a gesture is turned down, that is not the fault of the messenger. Otherwise, things will remain the same and warfare looms inevitably upon the horizon.
Beware of the serpent with 2,000 nukes and two ongoing wars offering peace.
and his 2000 pukes.
page: 1
lanceMar 20th, 2009 - 14:52:59
'US commitment to engagement, not threats'
Yes, but will Obama be able to control the U.S. jesus-heads that want world religious domination?
This may empower the fundamentalists christians (who elected Bush) to seek a new leader to elect as president and continue their path to salvation.
Maybe a equal relationship with muslims will cause a civil war in the U.S. Only time will tell.
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