[The Telegraph, U.K.]

 

 

Le Figaro, France

Bush's About-Face On Iran

 

"It comes particularly within the context of the U.S. election campaign. Negotiating with Iran is a demand put forward by Democrat candidate Barack Obama. In making this decision, the Republican Administration means to cut the grass out from under his feet and promote John McCain."

 

Editorial by Pierre Rousselin

                                                 

 

Translated By Sandrine Ageorges

 

July 17, 2008

 

France - Le Figaro - Original Article (French)

Man of the Moment: Undersecretary of State William Burns has been chosen to represent the United States in our first serious 'non-negotiations' with Iran over its nuclear program. The world is watching ...

 

U.S. State Department daily Press briefing by spokesman Seapn McCormack, July 17, 00:17:07RealVideo

The United States is taking a very important step in the direction of Iran by implicating itself in direct negotiations over its nuclear program.

 

Next Saturday, the number three man in the State Department, William Burns, will attend a meeting with Javier Solana and Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalilli.

 

The presence of the American diplomat is unprecedented. And it will not be merely symbolic. It will be at Saturday's meeting in Geneva that the Iranians will give their formal response to Western proposals that Solana presented to Teheran in June.

 

For European diplomacy, which has led efforts to reach a negotiated solution, the fact that the United States is finally getting involved so visibly is a great success. It's a very clear message to the Iranians about the seriousness of a diplomatic enterprise that they may have doubted as long as Washington kept its distance. 

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

Americans and Iranians both affirm that their positions haven't changed. Teheran still refuses to halt uranium enrichment - a condition set by the United States and five other countries (France, Germany, Great Britain, Russia and China) for genuine negotiations. Washington claims that additional sanctions will be imposed if Teheran refuses to halt uranium enrichment and before the U.S. enters such talks.

 

 

Secretary Rice answers questions about Iran,

with Finland Foreign Minister Stubb, July 17.

 

The fact remains that the American administration has made an about-face: it has agreed to participate in discussions, even if those are presented as preliminary to Iran even accepting U.S. conditions.

 

If the United States has come forward with such a gesture, it's in the hope that Iran will take the bait. Western incentives to stop enrichment will likely spark an internal debate in Teheran, which must be sustained while betting that those seeking conciliation will get the upper hand.

 

Six months before he hands over power, George W. Bush is distancing himself - at least momentarily - from the prospect of war in the Middle East. His manner is engendering relaxation on the oil market, where speculation has catapulted the price of a barrel. It comes particularly within the context of the U.S. election campaign. Negotiating with Iran is a demand put forward by Democratic candidate Barack Obama. In making this decision, the Republican Administration means to cut the grass out from under his feet and promote John McCain.

 

Iran's man of the moment: Negotiator Saeed Jalilli, will take

part - with American William Burns - on Saturday.

 

After the American about-face, the ball is in the Iranians’ court. Now they can be conciliatory without losing face. “In the near future, it's possible we'll have discussions on different topics with the United States,” declared Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad on Monday night, while rejecting any preconditions.

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

The Islamic Republic wants to be recognized by the United States as an indispensable interlocutor. It can seize its chance now or wait for the next American president. But if it waits, escalating tensions could resume quickly.

 

CLICK HERE FOR FRENCH VERSION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US July 18, 1:14am]









































Pew Global Attitudes Project July 16, 2008