In Istanbul, it is
now nearly tomorrow, July 24, the day that talks on Iran's nuclear
program are to continue in that city.
Istanbul is
perhaps the perfect place for such a dialogue. It is literally on
the cusp between Europe and Asia. It is the principal metropolis of
a country that is predominantly Muslim, but which holds up the
standard of westernization and modernization. Over the centuries, it
has been the scene of more than one clash of civilizations -- Western
Christendom rudely knocking the stuffing out of Eastern Christendom in 1204,
for example. It was the center of one of the rather large empires
(Iranians being descendants of another such imperial power, the
ancient Persians, and we Americans being the putative current
imperial power in the world).
In Greek
mythology, Io was transformed into a cow and had to roam the earth
until she crossed the Bosporos and met Prometheus (whose memory is
now kept alive in a recent sci-fi thriller about an empire even more powerful than ours). Both East and West have
been condemned to wander through a valley of fruitless diplomacy
and dangerous unease since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The phrase "crossing
the Bosporus" evokes thoughts of decisive movements beyond one's
comfort zone; one can hope that such a spirit can infuse the parlay
that will take place this week.
The
spokesman for Iran is slated to be Mr. Ali Baqeri, Iran's
deputy nuclear negotiator. His given name links him to the most
prominent figure in Shi'ite Islam (after The Prophet); his surname
marks him as "erudite" or "sagacious" -- one
could almost guess that he had been born for this role. Back in
January (at the last Istanbul round of talks), the chief Iranian negotiator,
Jalili, was reported to have said, about the nuclear fuel deal (some
sort of international exchange to give Iran what it says it needs,
but without involving its gaining weaponizing capabilities), "[this]
could be one of the most important areas for cooperation."
After those sessions ended without much result, Press TV quoted
Baqeri as saying that his country received the P5+1 proposal, but “we
stressed that Iran does not need fuel swap and what prompts Iran to
negotiate on the issue is cooperation and not necessity...These talks
could continue in the future and there is no obstacle, but the P5+1
should be given an opportunity to reach a conclusion for
cooperation.” After the last talks, he told a television
interviewer, "Adopting a strategy of pressure against Iran would
not be effective...the Iranian side is ready to take serious steps
and welcomes a step-by-step and reciprocal approach. We are waiting
for confidence-building measures.” One senses, in Baqeri, a cagey and
careful representative of the IRI.
Across the table from him will be Ms.
Helga Maria Schmid, the European Union's deputy head of foreign policy
affairs, who met with Bageri in early May in Geneva, and later in
Baghdad. Her official title is deputy secretary general for the
External Action Service. It should be recalled that after being
graduated from the Diplomatic Academy, her posts have included
several years as public affairs office in the German embassy in
Washington in the early '90s, and as head of the Political Staff of the Federal Foreign
Office and Head of the Minister's Office, in Berlin in '03-05.
So, will they pursue an agreement
similar to the deal brokered by Brazil and Turkey over two years ago,
which was derided and scuttled by the United States, even though we
had earlier signaled a desire for just such a solution? [see the text
of that agreement, below] An EU spokesman told Al-Monitor today,
"The objective for the meeting...is to look further at how
existing gaps in positions could be narrowed and how the process
could be moved forward." That publication reported that "The
meeting plans come a week after nuclear experts from the seven
nations met in Istanbul...to discuss the technical details of a P5+1
confidence building proposal," which would ask Iran "to
halt its 20% enrichment activities, ship out its 20% stockpile, and
decommission the highly fortified Fordo enrichment facility, built
into a mountain near Qom in exchange for fuel and safety upgrades for
Tehran’s medical and civilian eactors and spare parts for its
civilian aircraft."
Will any radically new ideas come out
of this quiet, out-of-the-limelight process? Can a military
"solution" be avoided? Or have things simply deteriorated
too far?
We must wait with bated breath...
May 2010 Iran/Brazil/Turkey pact:
1. We reaffirm our commitment to the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and in accordance with the
related articles of the NPT, recall the right of all State Parties,
including the Islamic Republic of Iran, to develop research,
production and use of nuclear energy (as well as nuclear fuel cycle
including enrichment activities) for peaceful purposes without
discrimination.
2. We express our strong conviction that we have the opportunity
now to begin a forward looking process that will create a positive,
constructive, non-confrontational atmosphere leading to an era of
interaction and cooperation.
3. We believe that the nuclear fuel exchange is instrumental in
initiating cooperation in different areas, especially with regard to
peaceful nuclear cooperation including nuclear power plant and
research reactors construction.
4. Based on this point the nuclear fuel exchange is a starting
point to begin cooperation and a positive constructive move forward
among nations. Such a move should lead to positive interaction and
cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear activities replacing and
avoiding all kinds of confrontation through refraining from measures,
actions and rhetorical statements that would jeopardize Iran's rights
and obligations under the NPT.
5. Based on the above, in order to facilitate the nuclear
cooperation mentioned above, the Islamic Republic of Iran agrees to
deposit 1200 kg LEU in Turkey. While in Turkey this LEU will continue
to be the property of Iran. Iran and the IAEA may station observers
to monitor the safekeeping of the LEU in Turkey.
6. Iran will notify the IAEA in writing through official channels
of its agreement with the above within seven days following the date
of this declaration. Upon the positive response of the Vienna Group
(US, Russia, France and the IAEA) further details of the exchange
will be elaborated through a written agreement and proper arrangement
between Iran and the Vienna Group that specifically committed
themselves to deliver 120 kg of fuel needed for the Tehran Research
Reactor (TRR).
7. When the Vienna Group declares its commitment to this
provision, then both parties would commit themselves to the
implemention of the agreement mentioned in item 6. Islamic Republic
of Iran expressed its readiness to deposit its LEU (1200 kg) within
one month. On the basis of the same agreement the Vienna Group should
deliver 120 kg fuel required for TRR in no later than one year.
8. In case the provisions of this Declaration are not respected
Turkey, upon the request of Iran, will return swiftly and
unconditionally Iran's LEU to Iran.
9. We welcome the decision of the Islamic Republic of Iran to
continue as in the past their talks with the 5+1 countries in Turkey
on the common concerns based on collective commitments according to
the common points of their proposals.
10. Turkey and Brazil appreciated Iran's commitment to the NPT and
its constructive role in pursuing the realization of nuclear rights
of its member states. The Islamic Republic of Iran likewise
appreciated the constructive efforts of the friendly countries Turkey
and Brazil in creating the conducive environment for realization of
Iran's nuclear rights.
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