G8: IRAN FACE TOUGHER SANCTIONS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
09.07.2009 11:07 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Group of Eight major powers will give Iran until
September to accept negotiations over its nuclear ambitions or else
face tougher sanctions, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on
Wednesday.

Upping the stakes in a dispute with Tehran, Sarkozy said the powers
would review the situation at a G20 meeting of developed and developing
countries in Pittsburgh on Sept. 24 and 25.

"If there is no progress by then we will have to take decisions,"
said Sarkozy after discussions with G8 partners that wrapped up the
first day of their annual summit.

Western countries believe Iran is trying to build an atomic
bomb. Tehran says it wants to master nuclear technology to generate
electricity and has rejected all overtures for talks.

The United States and Canada said the world’s main industrialized
nations were growing increasingly impatient.

"All G8 nations are united. There is a strong consensus at the table
that unless things change soon, there will be further action," said
Canadian spokesman Dimitri Soudas.

However, Sarkozy made clear Russia was still dragging its feet over
the issue and had pushed for more time before considering a fresh
round of sanctions. "We made an effort to agree not to strengthen
sanctions straightaway in order to bring everyone on board. The more
reserved amongst us agreed that Pittsburgh was the time for decisions,"
said Sarkozy.

In a separate statement, the G8 said it was committed to finding a
diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear program.

"We sincerely hope that Iran will seize this opportunity to give
diplomacy a chance," the statement said.

It deplored the violence in Iran following last month’s disputed
presidential election and said the arrests of journalists and
foreigners were "unacceptable".

Underscoring G8 concern over nuclear proliferation, the world power
leaders urged a quick start to talks on a treaty banning production
of nuclear bomb-making materials and called on all states to observe
a moratorium on nuclear explosions.

They confirmed Washington would host a nuclear security summit in
March, White House officials said, Reuters reported.