Iran, Venezuela Sign 11 Agreements, Condemn Sanctions - Turkish Deputy PM Doubts Effectiveness of Sanctions against Iran

Iran, Venezuela Sign 11 Agreements, Condemn Sanctions

21/10/2010 Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Venezuelan counterpart have condemned as “unfair” sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program as they signed 11 memorandums of understanding in various fields.

Ahmadinejad and Chavez issued a joint statement at the end of the Venezuelan president's three-day visit to Iran on Wednesday, the Iranian presidential website reported.

In the statement, the two presidents condemned the UN Security Council Resolution 1929 and called sanctions against Iran "unfair." They said that sanctions were aimed at “depriving the Islamic Republic of Iran of its inalienable nuclear rights.”

The two presidents called on the US and Western countries to change their “discriminatory” approach toward Iran's nuclear program.

Ahmadinejad and Chavez also condemned Israel's attack on ships carrying humanitarian aid to the besieged people of Gaza and called all Palestinian political groups to unity. They also condemned the interference of foreign forces, in particular the US, in internal affairs of Latin America.

The two presidents highlighted bilateral relations and called for further expansion of bilateral ties as well as the implementation of agreements signed between the two countries.

Iran and Venezuela have also signed 11 memorandums of understanding (MoU). The MoU's were signed by the two countries' ministers during a ceremony in Tehran on Wednesday at the end of the two-day visit of Chavez, Fars news agency reported.

The agreements promoted co-operation in areas including oil, natural gas, textiles, trade and public housing, the report added.

Iran and Venezuela also agreed to form a joint oil shipping company and jointly construct petrochemical plants. Venezuela's state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA will also participate in the exploitation of Iran's South Pars gas field.

Turkish Deputy PM Doubts Effectiveness of Sanctions against Iran

20/10/2010 Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said on Wednesday that sanctions may be hurting Iran but they are unlikely to force the Islamic Republic to change course on its nuclear program.

"I think it's a reality that the sanctions are putting more and more pressure on the Iranian economy," Babacan told reporters in Washington. "But is it getting any possible results about making the Iranians take steps that the P5-plus-1 expect? I have big doubts about it," Babacan added.

He was referring to the permanent five members of the UN Security Council -- the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France -- plus Germany. The group was behind a fourth round of UN Security Council sanctions.

"As a neighbor and as a country which has lived with Iranians, not together but side by side for centuries, it is very difficult to expect them to move just because they're under pressure," Babacan said. "The more pressure, the more it may be difficult for them to move," he added.
(AFP)
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