David Miliband

Iran

Iran was a major focus of attention in New York last week. The E3+3 and many others expressed grave concern about its nuclear programme, and declared a determination to address it through negotiation if possible, isolation and sanctions if necessary. We also had the standard, abhorrent, remarks from President Ahmadinejad about Israel, insulting the values of the chamber in which he was speaking.

Friday saw the revelation of a covert enrichment facility near Qom. Iran's response was evasive. They denied it was secret. True-we knew about it and have now given the IAEA a full briefing along with France and the US. Then President Ahmadinejad said that  Iran did not have to declare all its nuclear facilities to the US. Also true, and totally beside the point. Iran has to declare them not to the US but to the IAEA, with whom it claims to be fully cooperating when in fact it has been covertly constructing the site for years contrary to the requirements of 5 UNSCRs and its own safeguards agreement with the IAEA.

We stand at a crossroads with Iran. Down one path lies the future offered by President Obama to the people and government of Iran in his new year message last March. A future where Iran can celebrate its past and look forward to the benefits that its resources, natural and human, should bring.

But down another path lies a future marked by  conflict, hateful rhetoric and missed opportunity. One in which Iran chooses to evade responsibility rather than engage, to isolate itself from the community of nations and to reject the outstretched hand on offer.

We have made very clear which path we wish to take.  But we cannot walk it alone.  On Thursday in Geneva Iran must make a simple decision about whether it will address our fundamental concern which is its nuclear programme.  This is Iran's choice not ours; the time for excuses is over.

UK, US and France condemn Iranian nuclear activity

Posted at 02:25 26 September 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[14]

Entente Formidable

The Anglo-French joint work of recent years defies the stereotypes of countries always at each other's throats. I've always thought that made no sense for the modern world, when we have moved closer together through shared experience and the interchange of people. France shows the nonsense of believing that European identity comes at the cost of national identity. It also shows that we have strong allies for those parts of the European project that will remain inter-governmental.

Myself, French Minister of Economic Affairs, Industry & Employment Christine Lagarde and Lord Mandelson  

The Anglo-French summit in Evian today will show the extent of joint working, from the economy to migration to foreign policy. I will be working with Bernard Kouchner on Iran, Burma and Somalia policy amongst others. We are both members of the Security Council. We need to set a strong course together.

Posted at 15:55 06 July 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[2]

Obama's Cairo speech

There has been a lot of comment on President Obama's outstanding Cairo speech.  But one of the most interesting aspects was the contrast between what he had to say and the speeches this week of Iran's Supreme Leader and President. Obama talked about looking to the future rather than living in the past, and making sure that the West and Islam recognise their shared common principles. 

By contrast, Khamenei used his speech to refer to Israel as a 'cancerous tumour', and Ahmadinejad called the Holocaust a 'deception'.  

The US, not just a superpower but a vibrant and diverse democracy, is now led by one of the most eloquent and thoughtful leaders this young century has produced. The US people can be proud, and optimistic.  Iran, which ought to be playing a full role in the community of nations, has leaders who keep it in isolation by endlessly wallowing in hatred. Its people deserve better.

Posted at 15:33 05 June 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[8]

Case of Roxana Saberi

It is hard not to be deeply concerned about the case of Roxana Saberi - the Iranian/US journalist sentenced to eight years in an Iranian prison for alleged espionage on behalf of the US.  It's striking that the charge of espionage only emerged very late in the day, and the EU with our full support has made clear that the standards of the trial were sorely lacking in terms of transparency and fairness. 

Some have suggested that this case is linked to US efforts to establish better relations with Iran - perhaps this is part of the answer or an attempt to create leverage.  Either way, this is not the way Iran can re-build its standing in the world. I can only urge Iran's leaders to take the US offer as seriously as I know it is intended.  And they should not play games with the wellbeing of a young woman who clearly loves the country her father and partner (who has written a moving letter appealing for her release) come from and that she considers to be her own.  She should be freed immediately

Posted at 15:52 28 April 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[6]

Walkout

The British delegation walked out of the hall at the UN anti-racism conference on Monday when Iranian President Ahmedinejad made outrageous, anti-Semitic comments about "Zionists" and their worldwide conspiracy. As the UN Secretary General said, "I deplore the use of this platform by the Iranian President to accuse, divide and even incite."This is the opposite of what this conference seeks to achieve."

But my team walked back in again.  Why?  Because withdrawing from the process would have handed Ahmedinejad the victory he sought as he campaigns for re-election.  And because millions of victims of racism around the world expect us to show the political courage to address these issues and face down people like Ahmedinejad.

Our tough and consistent approach to this conference secured an agreement that included a clear statement that the Holocaust must never be forgotten if we are to successfully combat racism in all its forms, everywhere.

Posted at 16:22 22 April 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[16]

Nowruz Greeting

President Obama's message to the Iranian people was strong on rights, but also responsibilities. It was positive without missing the point about regime actions, signalling the prospect of a very different relationship with the Islamic Republic, while appealing to common hopes of people. It was an outstretched hand - as promised.

The initial reaction from Supreme Leader Khamenei arrived yesterday. It suggests that he has not yet realised that the game has changed. Inveighing against the Great Satan is yesterday's headline. People in the Middle East and further afield want something different.

Posted at 14:18 23 March 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[3]

Iran's Bushehr reactor

Some say switching on Iran's Bushehr reactor on 25 February will only add to west's concerns about Iran's nuclear programme. Iran says this shows we want to deny them their rights to nuclear power - important to be clear neither is true.

We have no problem with the Bushehr power reactor. If that was all they had, there would be no lack of confidence in their intentions. But it is not all they have. At Natanz and Arak they are also pursuing what the UNSC has called 'proliferation sensitive nuclear activities'. And they are doing so in defiance of UNSCRs requiring the suspension of these activities, as well as against the background of past non-compliance with their safeguards obligations, of continuing non-cooperation with IAEA enquiries into what the Agency has called 'possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear pogramme', and of other difficulties they are creating for the IAEA as set out in the Agency's recent report.

It is worth emphasising that far from denying states access to nuclear energy, the UK is committed to working with our international partners to help meet the challenge. Our intention is to develop a mechanism for the assured supply of nuclear fuel to states seeking nuclear energy, without the need to further develop their own domestic enrichment and reprocessing programmes. We believe this makes economic sense, encourages transparency and openness and promotes non-proliferation 

Posted at 08:28 27 February 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[5]

A bad year for human rights in Iran

2008 may have played host to worldwide celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but it was a bad year for human rights in Iran - even by recent standards. Iran executed at least 320 people last year, maintaining its grim record of more executions per capita than any other country. At least seven of those 320 were juvenile offenders, and in December two executions were carried out by stoning - despite explicit statements made by the Iranian judiciary in 2008 banning both barbaric practices.

The forcible closure in December of the Centre for Human Rights Defenders, founded by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi, was a blow to the entire human rights movement in Iran, demonstrating the government's zero tolerance approach to those courageous individuals who fight for the basic human rights so many of us take for granted, and dashing hopes for an early improvement in the situation in 2009.

Posted at 17:00 16 January 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[16]

Iran's Next Move

I strongly welcome the decision by the US Administration to send their senior diplomat, Bill Burns, to tomorrow's meeting of the E3+3 (UK, France, Germany, Russia, China and US), led by EU High Representative Javier Solana, with Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, who is due to respond to the package of economic, scientific and political cooperation offered to Iran for suspending their nuclear enrichment programme. The message to Iran is simple: get serious about the real needs of your people, which are for a serious response to year on year diminution in their standard of living, and abandon the fiction that the world is pursuing a vendetta against you. America's move demonstrates the determination of the E3+3 to avoid room for any excuses. It is now Iran's next move. There is a clear basis for negotiation. It needs to be taken up.

Posted at 22:07 18 July 2008 by David Miliband  |  Comments[5]

The Non-Proliferation Treaty: an unsung success story

The Non-Proliferation Treaty is 40 years old today. We should celebrate that. 189 countries are members. That’s everyone except India, Israel and Pakistan.
President Kennedy spoke in 1963 about "the possibility in the 1970s of ... a world in which 15 or 20 or 25 nations may have these weapons" (1).  But in reality, 45 years later, there are fewer than ten. The NPT helped bring this about.  It created a 'grand bargain' where those states with nuclear weapons would work towards a world free from nuclear weapons and those without would have equal access to all the benefits of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in return for implementing safeguard and non-proliferation obligations.
We shouldn’t take this for granted. Look at the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran.  We need to make sure the likely expansion of nuclear energy around the world brings prosperity and lower carbon emissions - not insecurity and weapons proliferation.
And we need to strengthen the three pillars of the NPT: zero tolerance of proliferation; a clear forward plan on multilateral nuclear disarmament and supporting the right to the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear energy . We’ll hold a big international conference on nuclear energy later this year to help take this forward. 
 
(1) News conference remarks by President Kennedy on nuclear testing March 21 1963

Posted at 09:38 01 July 2008 by David Miliband  |  Comments[7]

Iran: Nuclear Ball in their Court

At the beginning of May I chaired a meeting in London to agree a renewed offer to Iran of economic and scientifitic (including civil nuclear) cooperation if they would suspend uranium enrichment to allay fears of it being used for nuclear weapons. This package has now been delivered in Tehran. You can read it here

I would emphasise the comprehensive nature of the package; the unanimous view of the EU 3 plus the USA, Russia and China in support of the package; the difference it would make to the Iranian people; and the fact that the ball is now in the Iranian court.  The Russian government is delivering nuclear fuel to the Bushehr plant for civil nuclear purposes; we support this; it shows the possibilities of cooperation; but that requires openness and transparency.  This is a good place to start.

Posted at 10:40 16 June 2008 by David Miliband  |  Comments[1]

Serious concern

The latest report of the IAEA on Iran's nuclear programme  is sharp and clear. The contrast with last August's tone and content is striking. Then there was confidence that three months of the "workplan" would resolve outstanding issues. Now there is a lengthening list of questions and serious concern from the Agency that their questions are not being answered.

The reason for the change is simple. Iran has not responded adequately to questions about its nuclear programme. This is not about a vendetta against Iran or the Iranian people. It is about a concern to curb proliferation. That is why the dual track policy of incentives for cooperation and sanctions for proliferation is so important. 

Posted at 10:40 02 June 2008 by David Miliband  |  Comments[21]

Iran Nuclear File

The UNSC's repeated call for a halt to Iran's nuclear enrichment programme is separate from the IAEA's investigation of outstanding issues in respect of the programme. But they are coming to a head together.

In New York final talks are underway on a third UN sanctions resolution. At the IAEA the report comprehensively and in detail shows the continued refusal or inability of Iran to answer clear questions about its programme. Here are the key quotes:

"During the meetings mentioned above, the Agency also described parameters and development work related to the Shahab 3 missile, in particular technical aspects of a re-entry vehicle, and made available to Iran for examination a computer image provided by other Member States showing a schematic layout of the contents of the inner cone of a re-entry vehicle. This layout has been assessed by the Agency as quite likely to be able to accommodate a nuclear device."

"On 30 March 2007, the Agency requested Iran to reconsider its decision to suspend the implementation of the modified text of its Subsidiarity Arrangements General Part, Code 3.1. (GOV/2007/22, paras 12-14), but there has been no progress on this issue."

"The one major remaining issue relevant to the nature of Iran's nuclear programme is the alleged studies on the green salt project, high explosives testing and the missile re-entry vehicle. This is a matter of serious concern and critical to an assessment of a possible military dimension to Iran's nuclear programme."

"The Agency's overall assessment requires, inter alia, an understanding of the role of the uranium metal document, and clarifications concerning the procurement activities of some military related institutions still not provided by Iran. The agency only received authorization to show some further material to Iran on 15 February 2008.  Iran has not yet responded to the Agency's request of that same date for Iran to view this additional documentation on the alleged studies. In light of the above, the Agency is not yet in a position to determine the full nature of Iran's nuclear programme."

Iran: Further Attacks on Israel

I have always said that Iran is a cultered and educated country with the potential to be a key player in a key region of the world.  Foreign Minister Mottaki has written in the Guardian about his country's commitments to stability.

But recent appalling comments about Israel are a recipe for instability.  On 31 January President Ahmadinejad said "the mighty hands of the Palestinian people will bring about annihilation of the Zionest regime".  The Commander in Chief of the IRCG said: "In the near future we must see the annihilation of the cancerous tumour of the Israeli occupation by the mighty force of the Hezbollah Ummah fighters.   This rhetoric is damaging to the Middle East and damaging to Iran. The people deserve better than their leaders.

Fact Of The Day: Tuesday 27 February

The Pudong section of Shanghai, now home to 8 million people, a city the size of London, has been built and occupied within 15 years.

Posted at 19:24 26 February 2008 by David Miliband  |  Comments[11]