Thursday, November 28, 2013

Canada, the only sane country on earth

 

Iran nuclear deal gets 'deeply skeptical' response from Canada

Iran agrees to halt nuclear program in historic deal with 6 world powers


Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says he is "deeply skeptical" of the newly brokered nuclear deal with Iran and says Canada's sanctions will remain in "full force" against the country.
"We will evaluate the deal reached not just on the merits of its words but more importantly, on its verifiable implementation," Baird said at a news conference in Ottawa on Sunday.
He said that because of previous Iranian leaders had made hostile comments toward Israel, “we're deeply skeptical of the deal and the work that's brought us to this stage.”

Obama reassures Netanyahu

U.S. President Barack Obama attempted to reassure a skeptical Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday and said he wants to begin consultations with Israel immediately.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters on Air Force One that the two leaders reaffirmed the shared goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
"Consistent with our commitment to consult closely with our Israeli friends, the president told the prime minister that he wants the United States and Israel to begin consultations immediately regarding our effort to negotiate a comprehensive solution," Earnest said.
The agreement reached in Geneva during talks between Iran, the United States and five other world powers commits Tehran to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for limited and gradual relief from crippling economic sanctions.
Baird also said Canada will maintain sanctions against Iran. Those sanctions include:
  • Restrictions on financial transactions.
  • A ban on bilateral trade (worth about $135 million).
  • No Iranian diplomatic representation in Canada.
"Past actions predict future actions and Iran has defied the United Nations Security Council, and simply put, Iran has not earned the right to have the benefit of the doubt," Baird said.
Baird said he would like to see Iran abandon its plutonium enrichment program altogether and to shut down all its centrifuges.

'Increased transparency'

South of the border, Obama hailed the deal's provisions as key to preventing Iran from proliferating. "Simply put, they cut off Iran's most likely paths to a bomb," he said.
A White House statement said the deal limits Iran's existing stockpiles of enriched uranium, which can be turned into the fissile core of nuclear arms.
The statement also said the accord curbs the number and capabilities of the centrifuges used to enrich and limits Iran's ability to "produce weapons-grade plutonium" from a reactor in the advanced stages of construction.
In addition Iran's nuclear program will be subject to "increased transparency and intrusive monitoring."
In return, the statement promised "limited, temporary, targeted, and reversible (sanctions) relief" to Iran, noting that "the key oil, banking, and financial sanctions architecture, remains in place." And it warned that any sanctions relief will be revoked and new penalties enacted if Iran fails to meet its commitments.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry joined forces with foreign ministers of the nations negotiating with Iran to push the deal through early Sunday, as the talks entered their fifth day.
Kerry said the first-step deal will make Israel — an arch enemy of Iran — safer.
Israeli Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz, who is responsible for monitoring Iran's nuclear program, said there is no reason for the world to be celebrating. He said the deal reached in Geneva is based on "Iranian deception and self-delusion."
With files from The Canadian Press
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Canada 'Deeply Skeptical' About Iran Deal

Canada’s Foreign Minister John Baird declares his country's sanctions against Iran will remain in "full force".
By Elad Benari
First Publish: 11/25/2013, 3:42 AM

 
Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird
Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird
AFP photo
Despite a deal reached between Iran and the West, Canada said on Sunday it has no plans to remove the sanctions it has placed on the Islamic Republic.
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird, said he was "deeply skeptical" of the newly brokered nuclear deal with Iran, adding that Canada's sanctions will remain in "full force" against the country.
"We will evaluate the deal reached not just on the merits of its words but more importantly, on its verifiable implementation," Baird said at a news conference in Ottawa on Sunday, according to CBC.
He said that because previous Iranian leaders had made hostile comments toward Israel, “we're deeply skeptical of the deal and the work that's brought us to this stage.”
Baird declared that Canada will maintain sanctions against Iran, including restrictions on financial transactions, a ban on bilateral trade (worth about $135 million) and no Iranian diplomatic representation in Canada.
Last May, Canada ratcheted up its sanctions against Iran, adding 30 individuals and 82 entities to an economic blacklist and banning almost all exports to and imports from the country.
That move came several months after Canada announced it would expel Iranian diplomats from its territory and withdraw Canada's representatives from Iran.
Baird explained at the time that Canada is cutting off ties with Iran because “Canada views the Government of Iran as the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today.”
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu later spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and thanked him for the decision.
President Shimon Peres also praised Canada for breaking off relations with Iran, saying that it was an “act of bravery, Canada took a clear stand against the greatest danger of our time, and this shows its courage. We greatly appreciate it."
On Sunday, Baird said, "Past actions predict future actions and Iran has defied the United Nations Security Council, and simply put, Iran has not earned the right to have the benefit of the doubt.”
Baird said he would like to see Iran abandon its plutonium enrichment program altogether and to shut down all its centrifuges.
Earlier Sunday, Netanyahu rejected the deal signed with Iran as “a historic mistake”, clarifying that Israel was not bound by the agreement.
Later in the day, U.S. President Barack Obama called Netanyahu to discuss the deal.
"Consistent with our commitment to consult closely with our Israeli friends, the president told the prime minister that he wants the United States and Israel to begin consultations immediately regarding our efforts to negotiate a comprehensive solution," a White House spokesman told reporters.

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