G8 Summit Sidelines U.S. Sanctions Dispute
May 13, 1998 - 0:0
LONDON Leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) leading industrial nations are sidelining the dispute over U.S. extraterritorial sanctions when they met in the central English city of Birmingham this weekend. Instead, the issue is expected to be raised at the subsequent European Union summit with President Bill Clinton in London next Monday, where a possible resolution is on the table to waive the U.S. threat against companies investing in Iran's oil industry.
Foreign and finance ministers of the G8, meeting in London last weekend, ignored the row over U.S. sanctions in drawing up an agenda of regional and global issues to be raised for the annual summit in Birmingham. Conclusions ranged from issues on the environment, nuclear safety, arms control and UN issues to democracy and human rights, terrorism, infectious diseases, development and common concerns on a number of countries.
A statement on Iran welcomed recent encouraging political developments and its government's commitment to develop a civil society. Iran's interest in pursuing a more positive relationship with its neighbors and rest of the world was also mentioned. The text also includes a call on Iran to respect the international conventions or arrangements it has signed regarding the development of weapons of mass destruction and for all states to avoid providing assistance that might contribute to such an ability.
It is seen going some way to reach a compromise sought by the British presidency of the EU to meet U.S. demands for a common approach towards Iran to allow clinton to grant a waive to European companies from the so-called D'Amoto sanctions act. U.S. State Department Spokesman James Rubin was quoted saying Monday that Washington was nearing a decision on the Iran issue following consultations with European governments in London last weekend.
He said the U.S. was moving rapidly over the international consortium deal, led by Total of France, to develop South Pars gas field that best advances the objectives of the law, but denied Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had already indicated a waive. European official quoted by the Financial Times Monday suggested that the U.S. was preparing to relax its sanctions law and that such a move could pave a way next Monday to outline a settlement to the dispute.
(IRNA)
Foreign and finance ministers of the G8, meeting in London last weekend, ignored the row over U.S. sanctions in drawing up an agenda of regional and global issues to be raised for the annual summit in Birmingham. Conclusions ranged from issues on the environment, nuclear safety, arms control and UN issues to democracy and human rights, terrorism, infectious diseases, development and common concerns on a number of countries.
A statement on Iran welcomed recent encouraging political developments and its government's commitment to develop a civil society. Iran's interest in pursuing a more positive relationship with its neighbors and rest of the world was also mentioned. The text also includes a call on Iran to respect the international conventions or arrangements it has signed regarding the development of weapons of mass destruction and for all states to avoid providing assistance that might contribute to such an ability.
It is seen going some way to reach a compromise sought by the British presidency of the EU to meet U.S. demands for a common approach towards Iran to allow clinton to grant a waive to European companies from the so-called D'Amoto sanctions act. U.S. State Department Spokesman James Rubin was quoted saying Monday that Washington was nearing a decision on the Iran issue following consultations with European governments in London last weekend.
He said the U.S. was moving rapidly over the international consortium deal, led by Total of France, to develop South Pars gas field that best advances the objectives of the law, but denied Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had already indicated a waive. European official quoted by the Financial Times Monday suggested that the U.S. was preparing to relax its sanctions law and that such a move could pave a way next Monday to outline a settlement to the dispute.
(IRNA)