Iran nuclear programme is 'military': France (AFP)

[Up2Late]

(Ahh, but what do they know about Nuclear Power plants...) :sarcasm:

Iran nuclear programme is 'military': France

16/02/2006 07h40

PARIS (AFP) - French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy branded Iran's nuclear programme for the first time as a "clandestine, military" project. "It's very simple: no civilian nuclear programme can explain Iran's nuclear programme," he told France 2 television in an interview, two days after Tehran confirmed it was resuming sensitive uranium enrichment work.

"Therefore it's a clandestine military nuclear programme." The exact nature of Iran's nuclear ambitions -- Tehran insists that it just wants to make civilian nuclear power -- has sparked an international standoff which has led to the brink of UN Security Council intervention.

Earlier this month the United States and a European Union troika made up of Britain, France and Germany persuaded the watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to report Iran to the Security Council for action.

The world body is awaiting a March 6 report by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei before deciding how to proceed.

(More at link below)

<http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/060216074001.wciaxre7.html>

[tocqueville]

1. tom toles seems to share that opinion

[Up2Late]

2. tocqueville, you live in France, right? Do you know about how many...

...Nuclear Power Plants France has? 50, 100, 200? (Approximate is O.K.) :shrug:

And have you heard of this man in the article? Does he usually know what he's talking about?

[tocqueville]

3. answers

In France, as of 2005, 78% of all billed electrical energy was generated by 58 nuclear reactors, the highest share in the world. (wikipedia)

Douste-Blazy is the French Foreign Minister. He belongs to that category of politicians that is not controversial, even to the left. Philippe Douste-Blazy (b. January 1, 1953) is a cardiologist and a French Christian Democrat politician from Lourdes. Formerly centrist. He currently is Minister of Foreign Affairs in Dominique de Villepin's government. His principal former elected positions were mayor of Lourdes and mayor of Toulouse.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Douste-Blazy

if he is making that statement, it's because Chirac want to send a message, probably relayed from information coming from the Foreign Ministry. I don't know why it comes right now, maybe because the French are concerned about something, or maybe only to defuse the cartoon debate. I haven't read the original report, it's coming out soon...

[Up2Late]

4. Thanks for the info, good to know that he's not some sort of...

..."loose cannon" or extremist.

BTW, I'm 1/2 French (My Father was born in Paris).

[rooboy]

5. Enough of this bullshit.

It's a simple solution: no nukes for ANYBODY in the Middle East. Get rid of Israel's nukes and you'll have everyone on board to get rid of Iran's nuclear programme as well. The irony of this whole thing is that Israel's own hypocrisy is providing cover for the Iranians.

[megatherium]

6. Israel is not a signatory to the NPT is it? nt

[Tempest]

9. No, it is not

And Israel has never allowed for inspections of its nuclear facilities.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

7. Yeah...let's start with U. S. and Russian nukes....

...oops, that didn't work either, did it?

[Up2Late]

8. kick n/t

:kick:

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Blackthorn]

11. Like what you're about to get.

[lovuian]

12. Its obvious Europe is going to side with the US

when we bomb Iran... all the ducks in a row...

but I feel China will not like this...:nuke:

[Orsino]

13. So's theirs, and so is ours. n/t

[daleo]

14. The article doesn't actually prove anything, or provide any evidence

All it really does is give the indication that France wants to ensure it remains a member of a small nuclear club. He now says that Iran must suspend all nuclear activities, an unreasonable demand (e.g. nuclear medicine would be included here, as would be the teaching of physics).

"Firstly, the international community has sent a very strong message to the Iranians: show reason, suspend all nuclear activities and uranium enrichment," Douste-Blazy said, adding: "And they're not listening to us.

[Up2Late]

15. France Alleges Iran's Nuclear Plan Is for Military Use (NY Times)

(Don't know if there is anything new here, just a different source)

France Alleges Iran's Nuclear Plan Is for Military Use

By ARIANE BERNARD
Published: February 17, 2006

PARIS, Feb. 16 — France accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear program that could only be intended for military purposes, in comments on Thursday that reflected mounting European frustration with Iran's resumption of uranium enrichment two days ago.

"Today, it's simple — no civilian nuclear program can explain the Iranian nuclear program," said Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy on a morning news program on France 2 television. "So, it's an Iranian clandestine military nuclear program."

His words drew a swift response from Iran, which insists that its nuclear program is peaceful and strictly intended to provide energy. "I advise Mr. Douste-Blazy to speak diplomatically and not to increase tension," Ali Larijani, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, told Iranian television.

The French declaration increased the pressure on Iran, before talks next week in Brussels and Moscow with European Union and Russian officials, as Iran tries to avert a showdown at the United Nations Security Council in March.

(more at link below)

<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/17/international/europe/17france.html?ex=1297832400&en=bc4aa28e7712e1d2&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss>

[Olney Blue]

16. France steps up rhetoric on Iran

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4718838.stm


France has for the first time explicitly accused Iran of using its nuclear programme as a cover for clandestine military nuclear activity.

Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy told French TV no civilian programme could explain Iran's activity.

Iran says it resumed small-scale uranium enrichment work last week, after the UN nuclear watchdog reported it to the Security Council.

But Tehran insists the programme is solely for peaceful purposes.

[Terran1212]

17. The powerful of the world will turn their guns on...

[mom cat]

18. France must have been promiced a cut of the oil reserves.

[Up2Late]

19. Dupe

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2112408&mesg_id=2112408>