 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Israel slams Swiss-Iranian gas deal as 'unfriendly act'
Jerusalem (AFP) March 19, 2008 Israel on Wednesday slammed Switzerland for signing a deal with Iran's state gas firm, branding the move an "unfriendly act" hampering efforts to halt its arch foe's nuclear programme. The foreign ministry summoned the new Swiss ambassador, Walter Haffner, on the same day he presented his credentials, to express the Jewish state's "regret" over the deal, it said in a statement. "Switzerland and the international community are aware of the danger from Iran. Israel expects Switzerland to adhere to the international efforts on this issue," the ministry said. "While the international community works to make Iran abandon its nuclear programme, Israel believes this is not the right moment for economic deals with Iran." Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey signed the agreement with her Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki in Tehran on Monday. Financial details were not disclosed but the contract between Iran's state gas firm and Switzerland's Elektrizitaets-Gesellschaft Laufenburg reportedly envisages Iran supplying 5.5 billion cubic metres (194 trillion cubic feet) of gas annually from 2011. Israel considers Iran its top enemy following repeated calls by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for the Jewish state to be wiped off the map. Israel, widely considered to be the Middle East's sole if undeclared nuclear power, and its main US ally suspect Tehran of trying to develop atomic arms under the guise of its nuclear programme, a charge Iran denies. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com
Analysis: Iraq oil law holdup political
Washington (UPI) Mar 17, 2008 Iraq's oil law debate is political, not technical, a top U.S. official said, adding Iraq has tagged billions of dollars to boost oil production regardless. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
