EU puts Iran oil embargo in place

An oil embargo against Iran has been agreed as part of EU sanctions over its nuclear programme.

Foreign Secretary William Hague called the measure part of "an unprecedented set of sanctions."

"I think this shows the resolve of the European Union on this issue," he said

Diplomats say the measures, adopted by the EU's 27 foreign ministers, include an immediate embargo on new contracts for crude oil and petroleum products while existing ones are allowed to run until July.

Iran says its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes. But many international officials fear the country is trying to develop nuclear weapons.

Foreign Secretary William Hague has
welcomed an EU ban on Iranian oil as
part of sanctions against the
country over its nuclear programme (AP)

EU diplomats called the measure part of a twin track approach: increase sanctions to discourage what they suspect is Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons but to emphasize at the same time the international community's willingness to talk.

The EU also agreed to freeze the assets of the Iranian central bank. Together, the two measures are intended not only to pressure Iran to agree to talks but also to choke of funding for its nuclear activities.

In October EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton wrote to Saeed Jalili, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, saying her goal was a negotiated solution that "restores international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme." She has not yet received a reply.

In advance of the decision, negotiators worked hard to try to ensure that the embargo would punish only Iran - and not EU member Greece, which is in dire financial trouble and relies heavily on low-priced Iranian oil.

The foreign ministers agreed to a review of the effects of the sanctions, to be completed by May 1.

'No plans' for Western military action on Syria, Iran

Western nations have no immediate plans for military action to stop the repression of protests in Syria or to halt Iran's nuclear programme, Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Sunday.

Asked if there was a possibility of a no-fly zone in Syria like the one imposed over Libya last year, Hague said there was "no serious prospect" of a UN resolution on the subject.

"We haven't been looking at a no-fly zone," Hague told Sky News, saying it would be only effective in tandem with other measures, and that the Syrian regime had not been relying on air power to repress protests.

"There is no serious prospect certainly at the moment of the United Nations Security Council agreeing any resulution at the moment, let alone agreeing a resolution comparable to anything that happened in Libya."

But he said that if the current Arab League monitoring mission in Syria does not work "I hope they (the Arab League) will come to the UN and suggest a way forward that we can all get behind."

Hague was also cool on suggestions by Qatar that Arab forces should be sent into Syria to stop the deadly 10-month crackdown on dissent by President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

On Iran, Hague warned that Tehran's "dangerous" nuclear drive threatened profileration across the Middle East.

"We must not be put off further sanctions by bluster or statements from Iran," Hague said, adding that he hoped European Union foreign ministers would agree new measures when they meet on January 23.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad waves at supporters during a rare public appearance in Damascus on January 11

"If it continues it will produce nuclear profileration across the Middle East, which will then be extremely dangerous for the people of Iran, for the whole region and for the peace of the world."

Hague refused to rule out military action against Iran but said Britain was not calling for it.

"We've never ruled anything out, we've not ruled out any option, or we've not ruled out supporting any option, we believe all options should be on the table, that is part of the pressure on Iran, he said.

"But we're clearly not calling for or advocating military action, we're advocating negotiation, meaningful netogiations, if Iran will enter in to them."

The West accuses Iran of trying to produce a nuclear weapon, but Iran says its programme is for civilian use.

AFP 2012

Eurozone must focus on growth: Britain

Eurozone countries must concentrate on boosting growth and cutting regulation following the downgrading of several nations in the bloc, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Sunday.

Hague said the decision on Friday by ratings agency Standard and Poor's to downgrade more than half of the members of the debt-ridden eurozone -- including stripping France of its triple-A rating -- was "serious".

"It underlines the fact that the eurozone is not through its problems... Across Europe, including in the UK, we need to redouble our efforts to get growth going," Hague said.

"That means in Europe more free trade agreements with the rest of the world, it means really pushing for the single market, it means stopping passing regulations who've made life more difficult for businesses."

Hague: European countries need growth

Britain, which is not a member of the eurozone, was the only EU member to reject a Franco-German proposal in December for a treaty across the bloc on implementing stricter fiscal discipline.

Prime Minister David Cameron said he did so to protect the City of London from moves to introduce a financial services tax.

Britain was also involved in a slanging match with France last month after the French central bank governor and senior ministers said rating agencies should be mulling a debt downgrade of Britain rather than France.

Britain's AAA rating remains intact.

Hague said it was in Britain's interest for the eurozone, its biggest export market, to recover.

"We want the eurozone countries to recover. They can best do so through that kind of financial actions and to really setting a course for growth. No more time wasting bureaucratic directives, real emphasis on free trade."

AFP 2012

Hague says will work with new Islamic govts

Foreign Secretary William Hague on Friday pledged to support governments elected in the wake of the Arab Spring uprisings, despite "legitimate concerns" over the rise of parties rooted in Islam.

Writing in The Times, Hague argued that the recent success enjoyed by religious parties did not mean the Arab Spring had turned into a "cold winter", warning that bad governance would again force demonstrators onto the streets.

"It is true that parties drawing their inspiration from Islam have done better at the polls than secular parties and there are legitimate concerns about what this will mean," Hague wrote in Friday's edition.

"We must respect these choices while upholding our own principles of human rights and freedom and urging the highest standards," he added. "The true test of these governments will be how they act in office."

The former Tory leader warned that expressing favour for certain parties or philosophies in the ongoing series of Middle East elections would "fatally undermine faith in our intentions and our support for democracy."

Foreign Secretary William Hague on Friday pledged to support governments elected in the wake of the Arab Spring uprisings, despite "legitimate concerns" over the rise of parties rooted in Islam

Prime Minister David Cameron avoided meeting with officials from Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood during a visit last year, calling them "extreme", but london now seems keen to build bridges after the party's strong showing in recent polls.

Hague vowed to "redouble our diplomatic and long-term support to the region", saying that the Arab Spring was "always going to be a long process, not an instant fix".

The minister predicted a bumpy ride ahead for the region, pointing to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's violent crackdown on protesters.

The government remains devoted to supporting the Arab League in its attempts to broker an end to the Syrian violence while maintaining economic and diplomatic pressure on the regime, stressed Hague.

Britain was at the forefront of international efforts to support Libya's rebels against then leader Moamer Kadhafi, and was one of the first countries alongside France and the US to launch military action under a UN mandate in March.

©AFP

HAGUE CONDEMNS IRAN OVER URANIUM

Foreign Secretary William Hague tonight said he was "extremely disappointed" by Iran's decision to carry out high-level uranium enrichment and branded it a "provocative act".

A United Nation's nuclear watchdog confirmed today that the process is under way in a fortified underground bunker near the holy city of Qom.

The "clandestine nature" of the activity undermines Tehran's claims that its nuclear programme is entirely civilian, Mr Hague said.

He claims Iran can provide "no credible rationale" for producing such quantities of 20% enriched uranium, which can be turned into fissile warhead material, and called on it to stop production immediately.

Mr Hague said: "I am extremely disappointed by Iran's decision to start enrichment operations at its Qom facility.

"At a time when the international community is asking Iran to provide assurances of the peaceful nature of its programme, this is a provocative act which further undermines Iran's claims that its programme is entirely civilian in nature.

"Iran only acknowledged the facility at Qom after its existence became known. Its size, location and clandestine nature raise serious questions about its ultimate purpose.

"Iran can provide no credible rationale for producing so much 20% enriched uranium. Its claim to be enriching for the Tehran research reactor does not stand up to serious scrutiny.

President Ahmadinejad tours the Natanz uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, Iran in April 2008.

"Iran already has sufficient enriched uranium to power the reactor for more than five years and has not even installed the equipment necessary to manufacture fuel elements.

"If Iran has nothing to hide, it should seek every opportunity to reassure the international community of its peaceful intentions.

"In the absence of this, international pressure on Iran will only increase further".

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed earlier today that the enrichment process was under way at the underground Fordo plant, which Iran only acknowledged after the UK, United States and France revealed its existence in 2009.

PA 2012

William Hague called on the Burmese government to release all remaining political prisoners.

William Hague called on the Burmese government to release all remaining political prisoners as he met opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a historic visit to the country.

The Foreign Secretary, the first to travel to Burma in more than 50 years, had dinner with the Nobel Peace Prize winner and pro-democracy campaigner ahead of formal talks tomorrow.

After talks earlier with the regime, Mr Hague said that the UK stood ready to "respond positively" to improvements in human rights and political freedoms.

But he signalled that further progress was required by the international community if the country, the subject of sanctions, was to be brought in from the cold.

President Thein Sein unexpectedly embarked on a series of liberalising measures after coming to office last year, including opening talks with Ms Suu Kyi.

His nominally civilian government also released more than 200 political prisoners and legalised trade unions after years of hardline military rule.

Critics caution however that significant numbers of political prisoners - variously estimated to number between 590 and 1,700 - remain behind bars, despite government promises to free them, while reports of abuses against ethnic minorities continue.

The visit by Mr Hague is the latest by world counterparts, including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, amid efforts to bring Burma back into the international fold.

"I emphasised the importance the British Government attaches to the reforms that the Burmese government has undertaken in the last six months, and my sincere hope that there will be further progress in the weeks and months ahead," he said following the talks with the government.

"I made clear that the British Government stands ready to respond positively to evidence of further progress towards that lasting improvement in human rights and political freedom that the people of Burma seek."

He made clear however that the UK expected to see the release of all political prisoners, credible by-elections in April and humanitarian access and peace talks in highly-impoverished ethnic areas.

Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy has now re-registered as a political party and will contest a series of 48 parliamentary by-elections due to take place on April 1, in what is being seen as an important test of the reform process.

In a message on Mr Hague's Facebook page, she said: "Britain and British politicians have provided us with invaluable support over the last 23 years.

"Foreign Secretary William Hague's visit will enable him to assess the present situation in Burma. It will also give me an opportunity to get to know better a man I have long regarded as a good friend of our country," she said.

Britain is pushing for a process of national reconciliation to end the fighting between the government and the country's ethnic minorities, such as the Kachins, and to bring them into the mainstream political process.

While in the former capital, Rangoon, Mr Hague is also due to meet other former political prisoners and ethnic leaders.

PA 2012