ISSUES....
Inside, confidential, off the record

 

Head to head


There are few things in this world we have always been able to count upon when it comes to foreign affairs, but we have always been able to count upon Russia's covetous eyes cast upon Iran, its southern "neighbour" on the Caspian Sea with an eventual warm water port into the Persian Gulf or onto the Gulf of Oman . Russian history has been one attempt after another to gain access to a warm water port facility. Iran has understood that through the centuries, and has looked north toward Russia with proper trepidation. Thus we are all the more confused by the fact that Russia and Iran are moving toward each other rather than remaining at very long arms length. Russia's Foreign Minister, Mr. Sergei Lavrov, today expressed "concern" regarding threats that "military sanctions against Iran are being seriously considered" following a meeting with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. Kouchner, at the same time, said that France and Russia have differences regarding Iran but that " everything should be done to avoid war." This does not ring true, however, in light of Mr. Kouchner's rather obvious "war" comments last week, reported here yesterday and earlier this week. "We are seriously concerned about increasingly frequent reports that military action against Iran is being seriously considered," Lavrov told reporters after meeting with Mr. Kouchner in a prelude to a UN Security Council meeting to be held Friday in NY. Mr. Kouchner, we should remember, is a very public member of the European Left and was also the co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières. We have been very surprised, therefore, by his war-like rhetoric given his history.

Commentary for Dennis Garthman / 09 17 07

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Petroleumworld 09 20 07

 

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