In Case You Missed It: "It is in the Long-Term Interests of Germany and Europe, to Prevent an Iranian Nuclear Weapon"

In Case You Missed It: "It is in the Long-Term Interests of Germany and Europe, to Prevent an Iranian Nuclear Weapon" Major German Newspaper Runs Op-Ed UANI President, Ambassador Kristen Silverberg, and Dr. August Hanning, Senior Advisor to the UANI-ISD Initiative [English Translation Below] So kann die iranische Atombombe friedlich verhindert werden! Dramatischer Appell an Irans Präsident Ahmadinedschad kurz vor dem entscheidenden Verhandlungs-Gipfel Von Kristen Silverberg und Dr. August Hanning BILD May 19, 2012 Am 23. Mai kommen die Verhandlungsführer für die Atomgespräche mit Said Jalili, dem iranischen Verhandlungschef, in Bagdad zusammen. Obwohl damit weiterhin eine Chance besteht, den Konflikt auf diplomatischem Wege zu lösen, schließt sich das Zeitfenster. Es geht nun darum, konkrete Ergebnisse zu erzielen. Die iranische Verzögerungstaktik der vergangenen Jahre führte dazu, dass Anfang 2012 ein militärischer Konflikt fast unausweichlich schien. Monatelang wurde die Wahl zwischen einer militärischen Konfrontation oder einem nuklearen Rüstungswettlauf im Persischen Golf öffentlich diskutiert. Um dem Iran die Ernsthaftigkeit der internationalen Bemühungen vor Augen zu führen, verabschiedeten die Europäische Union und die USA Sanktionspakete von ungekannter Schärfe. Obwohl ein Großteil der neuen Sanktionen erst im Juli in Kraft treten wird, waren die Auswirkungen unmittelbar im Iran spürbar. Der Verfall der iranischen Währung Rial, verursacht durch jahrelanges wirtschaftliches Missmanagement, beschleunigte sich enorm. Die neuen Maßnahmen gegen das iranische Finanzsystem und die Öl- und Gasindustrie führten zu deutlich verminderten Staatseinnahmen. Anscheinend hat dies die politischen Kalkulationen der iranischen Führung beeinflusst. Seit April scheint die iranische Seite nicht nur dazu bereit, das Nukleardossier in das Zentrum der Verhandlungen zu stellen. Sie signalisierte zusätzlich Offenheit für erste konkrete Maßnahmen. Wir, Botschafterin Silverberg und Dr. Hanning, haben immer wieder darauf hingewiesen, dass alle Anstrengungen unternommen werden müssen, um die Zweifel am ausschließlich zivilen Charakter des iranischen Nukleardossiers auf diplomatischemWeg zu beseitigen. Es ist im iranischen Interesse, die Bedenken der internationalen Gemeinschaft auszuräumen. Der Nichtverbreitungsvertrag beinhaltet neben Rechten auch Pflichten. Neben dem Recht, über Nukleartechnik zu verfügen, steht die Pflicht, diese ausschließlich für zivile Zwecke zu nutzen, sowie die Verpflichtung, offen und umfassend mit der Internationalen Atomenergie-Organisation zusammenzuarbeiten. In beiden Feldern ist der Iran in den letzten Jahren seinen Verpflichtungen nicht nachgekommen. Seine Verstöße gegen den Nichtverbreitungsvertrag und seine Anstrengungen, Teile seines Nuklearprogramms zu verschleiern, begründen ein nachhaltiges Misstrauen der internationalen Gemeinschaft. Der Start der neuen Verhandlungsrunde hat Hoffnungen entstehen lassen, dass der Iran bereit ist, die internationale Gemeinschaft davon zu überzeugen, dass sein Nuklearprogramm ausschließlich zivilen Zwecken dient. Dieses Ziel zu erreichen ist jedoch eine schwierige Herausforderung. Der wirtschaftliche Druck durch internationale Sanktionen ist ein integraler Bestandteil dieser Verhandlungen. Er hat maßgeblich dazu beigetragen, dass die iranische Seite überhaupt dazu bereit ist zu verhandeln. Daher besteht die Gefahr, dass bei einer Verminderung des wirtschaftlichen Drucks die iranische Verhandlungsbereitschaft erneut abflacht. In der aktuellen Situation ist es daher wichtig, den Druck auf den Iran nicht zu vermindern, sondern ihn beizubehalten. Nur so können konstruktive Verhandlungen mit dem Iran sichergestellt werden. Neben staatlichen Maßnahmen kann auch die Privatwirtschaft dazu beitragen, diesen Prozess zu unterstützen. Die deutsche Wirtschaft hat traditionell gute und vertrauensvolle Beziehungen zu iranischen Geschäftspartnern. Gleichwohl liegt es im langfristigen Interesse Deutschlands und Europas, eine iranische Nuklearwaffe und die daraus resultierende Destabilisierung des Persischen Golfs zu verhindern. Die sich daraus ergebenden Nachteile und Kosten wären um ein Vielfaches höher als die Einbußen, die sich durch freiwillige Zurückhaltung ergeben. The way to peacefully prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb! Dramatic appeal to Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad just before the decisive negotiation's meeting By Kristen Silverberg and Dr August Hanning BILD May 19, 2012 On 23 May, the chief negotiators will meet Said Jalili, Iran's head of negotiations, in Baghdad. Although there is still a chance to resolve the conflict by diplomatic means, the window is closing. The aim now is to achieve concrete results. Iran's delaying tactics in recent years led to a situation in which in early 2012 military conflict seemed almost inevitable. For months, the choice between a military confrontation and a nuclear arms race in the Persian Gulf was publically discussed. In order to demonstrate to Iran the seriousness of the international efforts, the European Union and the US adopted sanctions packages of unprecedented seriousness. Although many of the new sanctions measures will only come into force in July, their effects were felt immediately in Iran. The collapse of the Iranian currency, the Rial, caused by years of economic mismanagement, accelerated dramatically. The new measures against Iran's financial system and the oil and gas industry led to significantly reduced government revenues. Apparently this influenced the political calculations of the Iranian leadership. Since April, the Iranian side seems not only willing to put the nuclear issue at the heart of the negotiations. It also signalled openness to implement some initial concrete measures. We, Ambassador Silverberg and Dr. Hanning, have repeatedly pointed out that all efforts must be made to eliminate the doubts about the exclusively civilian nature of Iran's nuclear dossier by diplomatic means. It is in Iran's interest to address the concerns of the international community. The NPT includes not only rights but also obligations. In addition to the right to possess nuclear technology, the treaty entails the duty to use it exclusively for civilian purposes, as well as the obligation to full disclosure and to cooperate comprehensively with the International Atomic Energy Agency. In both fields, Iran has in recent years failed to comply with its obligations. Its violations of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and its efforts to cover up parts of its nuclear program, led to a deep sense distrust by the international community. The launch of the new round of negotiations has given rise to hopes that Iran is ready to convince the international community that its nuclear program is purely for civilian purposes. To achieve this goal , however, is a difficult challenge. The economic pressure caused by the international sanctions is an integral part of these negotiations. It has significantly contributed to the Iranian side's readiness to negotiate. Therefore, there is a risk that a reduction in economic pressure will lead to a reduction in Iran's willingness to negotiate. In the current situation, it is therefore important not to reduce the pressure on Iran, but to keep it high. This is the only way to ensure meaningful negotiations with Iran. In addition to government policies and measures, the private sector can help to support this process. The German economy has traditionally good and trustful relations with Iranian business partners. Nevertheless, it is in the long-term interests of Germany and Europe, to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapon and the resulting destabilization of the Persian Gulf. The resulting disadvantages and costs would be significantly higher than those caused by voluntary restraint. Kristen Silverberg is a former U.S. ambassador to the European Union. State Secretary (ret.) Dr. August Hanning is the former president of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) In a new transatlantic cooperation between the "Institute for Strategic Dialogue" in London and "United Against a Nuclear Iran" in New York both organizations work for the peaceful prevention of an Iranian nuclear weapon. The "Institute for Strategic Dialogue" is a European think tank which promotes innovative solutions to the challenges of European foreign policy. "United Against a Nuclear Iran" is an American organization that advocates for the peaceful prevention of a military nuclear program in Iran. Click here to learn more about the UANI-ISD Initiative. ### United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a program of the American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran, Inc., a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran should concern every American and be unacceptable to the community of nations. Since 1979 the Iranian regime, most recently under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's leadership, has demonstrated increasingly threatening behavior and rhetoric toward the US and the West. Iran continues to defy the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations in their attempts to monitor its nuclear activities. A number of Arab states have warned that Iran's development of nuclear weapons poses a threat to Middle East stability and could provoke a regional nuclear arms race. In short, the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran is a danger to world peace. United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a non-partisan, broad-based coalition that is united in a commitment to prevent Iran from fulfilling its ambition to become a regional super-power possessing nuclear weapons.  UANI is an issue-based coalition in which each coalition member will have its own interests as well as the collective goal of advancing an Iran free of nuclear weapons. The Objectives of United Against a Nuclear Iran Inform the public about the nature of the Iranian regime, including its desire and intent to possess nuclear weapons, as well as Iran's role as a state sponsor of global terrorism, and a major violator of human rights at home and abroad; Heighten awareness nationally and internationally about the danger that a nuclear armed Iran poses to the region and the world; Mobilize public support, utilize media outreach, and persuade our elected leaders to voice a robust and united American opposition to a nuclear Iran; Lay the groundwork for effective US policies in coordination with European and other allies; Persuade the regime in Tehran to desist from its quest for nuclear weapons, while striving not to punish the Iranian people, and; Promote efforts that focus on vigorous national and international, social, economic, political and diplomatic measures. UANI is led by an advisory board of outstanding national figures representing all sectors of our country.