Swiss Min Rejects US, Jewish Criticism Of Iranian Gas Deal

[December]

Way to go, Switzerland! :thumbsup:


http://www.president.ir/piri/media/mid/28666.jpg

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday called for developing relations with Switzerland.
In a meeting with Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey, President Ahmadinejad said that Iran is the land of culture and logic and welcomes friendly relations with other countries.

'Bern does not need US permission' :)
Tue, 18 Mar 2008

http://www.presstv.com/photo/20080318/davari20080318212817531.jpg

Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey

Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey says her country does not need Washington's permission to advance its strategic interests.
"Switzerland is an independent country that has its own strategic interests to defend," Calmy-Rey said after the signing of a multibillion-dollar gas deal.
She shrugged off US criticism of her trip to Iran, in which she met the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.


Swiss Min Rejects US, Jewish Criticism Of Iranian Gas Deal
3-18-08 1:29 PM EDT
BERN (AP)--Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey Tuesday brushed aside U.S. and Jewish criticism of a multibillion-dollar gas deal she helped clinch with Iran, saying Switzerland doesn't need permission from the U.S. to advance its strategic interests.

The brusque remarks by Calmy-Rey, who has ruffled feathers in Washington and Jerusalem with her outspoken positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, threaten to escalate tensions over a 25-year natural gas contract announced Monday between Swiss energy trading company Elektrizitaets-Gesellschaft Laufenburg AG (EGL.EB) and the state-owned National Iranian Gas Export Company.

The agreement is worth between EUR18 billion and EUR27 billion.
"Switzerland is an independent country that has its own strategic interests to defend," Calmy-Rey told reporters.

Monday, the spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Bern said Washington had told the Swiss that "major new oil and gas deals with Iran send precisely the wrong message at a time when Iran continues to defy U.N. Security Council resolutions requiring it to suspend enrichment-related and reprocessing activities."

Lisbeth Keefe said the U.S. also was studying whether the deal violates the U.S. Iran Sanctions Act.
"But we believe the deal in any case violates the spirit of the sanctions," she said.

The deal has come under close scrutiny because of the sanctions imposed on Tehran by the U.N. Security Council over concerns about Iran's nuclear and missile program. The Iranian government says it only wants to produce atomic energy for peaceful use, but the U.S. and Israel accuse it of seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
Calmy-Rey defended her trip to Iran, where she met Iran's hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and witnessed the signing of the gas accord.

READ MORE - http://news.morningstar.com/newsnet/ViewNews.aspx?article=/DJ/200803181329DOWJONESDJONLINE000672_univ.xml

[December]

America might list Switzerland as a terrorist state tomorrow....

Pretty soon USA is going to be a laughing stock. :)

[December]

Now Israel is trying to lecture the Swiss.... :D

http://www.presstv.com/photo/20080321/khalaj20080321130007578.jpg

The deal signed between Switzerland's Elektrizitaetsgesellschaft Laufenburg (EGL) and the National Iranian Gas Export Company for the annual purchase of up to 5.5 billion cubic meters of Iranian gas has irked Washington and Tel Aviv.

In a hasty reaction to this major gas deal, the US Embassy in Bern issued a statement, claiming that the agreement would send 'wrong message' to Iran.

"We have conveyed to the Swiss that major new oil and gas deals with Iran send precisely the wrong message at a time when Iran continues to defy UN Security Council resolutions."

Annoyed by the sealing of the agreement, Israel summoned the Swiss Ambassador to Tel Aviv, Walter Haffner, to the foreign ministry.

In a statement issued by the foreign ministry of the Zionist regime, Israel claimed, "Iran continues to pursue its nuclear program, aids radical organizations, supports terror, tramples on human rights and denies the right of a UN member state to exist, while demonstrating anti-Semitism and hatred of Israel. "

"Switzerland and the entire international community are aware of the threat posed by Iran. Israel expects Switzerland to take part in the global efforts on this issue."
Let's see how the Swiss Foreign Minister views it. Calmy-Rey said after signing of the deal: "I am happy that the gas exports agreement has been signed between the two companies." "It is in full compliance with international law and UN resolutions."

Even the State Department deputy spokesman couldn't remain silent. "We don't think that now is the time for people to be investing in Iran, not only in its petroleum or natural gas area, but in any sector of its economy," Tom Casey said.

READ MORE - http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=48389&sectionid=3510303#

[December]

Amazing.... US is actually asking to see the Swiss-Iran gas agreement... :D


US says no response to requests to view Swiss-Iran gas agreement

Dubai (Platts) -- 31Mar2008

The US says it has yet to receive a response to requests to view a copy
of the long-term gas agreement Swiss energy company EGL signed with the
National Iranian Gas Export Co. earlier this month, the US embassy in
Switzerland said Sunday.

"We have never seen the contract," the embassy said in a posting on its
web site dated Friday.

"We originally asked for a copy of the deal in June 2007. Following the
March 17, 2008 signing, the United States government has made an official
request to the Swiss government for a copy of the contract," the posting
added. "As of now, we have not received a response to our request for a copy
of the contract."

The 25-year agreement will see EGL purchase 500 million cu m/year
(17.65 Bcf/year) of Iranian gas from next year through the 520 km (323 mile)
Trans-Adriatic-Pipeline. This will increase to 5.5 billion cu m/year in 2012
when the TAP becomes fully operational.
"We have conveyed to the Swiss that major new oil and gas deals with Iran
send precisely the wrong message at a time when Iran continues to defy UNSC
resolutions requiring it to suspend enrichment-related, reprocessing and heavy
water activities," the posting said.
The US says its request to view the agreement is to determine whether it
violates UN Security Council sanctions and the US government's Iran Sanctions
Act.


READ MORE - http://www.platts.com/Electric%20Power/News/8619847.xml?src=Electric%20Powerrssheadlines1

[Truth_and_Power]

Swiss foreign minister was quoted as saying, "If we can be hitler's banker, we can certainly buy gas from Iran."

[December]

Swiss foreign minister was quoted as saying, "If we can be hitler's banker, we can certainly buy gas from Iran."


Where did you read about it?

[jafar00]

Swiss foreign minister was quoted as saying, "If we can be hitler's banker, we can certainly buy gas from Iran."


I can't find that quote anywhere. In any case, what has that got to do with anything? Are you comparing Ahmedinejad with Hitler? Firstly, he is not giving Jews a hard time and second he is not invading nor has he any plans of invading any of his neighbours and sparking off a war.

[Pookie]

I seem to recall Ahmadinejad saying Israel needs to be wiped off the map. That may be what Washington is all hyped up about.
I'll try to find a link to back my statement.
Purrs,
Pookie

Found one of many:

TEHRAN: Iran's conservative new president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said Wednesday that Israel must be "wiped off the map" and that attacks by Palestinians would destroy it, the ISNA press agency reported.

Ahmadinejad was speaking to an audience of about 4,000 students at a program called "The World Without Zionism," in preparation for an annual anti-Israel demonstration on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.

His tone was reminiscent of that of the early days of Iran's Islamic revolution in 1979. Iran and Israel have been bitter enemies since then, and anti-Israel slogans have been common at rallies.

Senior officials had avoided provocative language over the past decade, butAhmadinejad appears to be taking a more confrontational tone than Iranian leaders have in recent years.

Ahmadinejad said in his remarks Wednesday that the issue of a Palestinian state would be resolved only when Palestinians took control of all their lands.

Read more....
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/10/26/news/iran.php

That is one of very many articles.

[Truth_and_Power]

Swiss foreign minister was quoted as saying, "If we can be hitler's banker, we can certainly buy gas from Iran."


I can't find that quote anywhere. In any case, what has that got to do with anything? Are you comparing Ahmedinejad with Hitler? Firstly, he is not giving Jews a hard time and second he is not invading nor has he any plans of invading any of his neighbours and sparking off a war.


Funding hezbollah is essentially invading your neighbors. The quote was mine.. sarcastic.. making a point. The Swiss do as they please without any regard for the actions of others.

[December]

Still waiting for Mr.Truth_and_Power to reply....


Swiss foreign minister was quoted as saying, "If we can be hitler's banker, we can certainly buy gas from Iran."


Source, please.

[Truth_and_Power]

Still waiting for Mr.Truth_and_Power to reply....


Swiss foreign minister was quoted as saying, "If we can be hitler's banker, we can certainly buy gas from Iran."


Source, please.


I answered, scroll up.