LONDON, May 1, 2008
Iran's Nuclear Program Priority For Rice
Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks And Kosovar Independence Also Key To Secretary Of State Condoleeza Rice's Diplomatic Mission
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Secretary Rice is on a diplomatic mission in London and the Middle East where she'll be required to juggle a lot of problems at once, from Iran's nuclear program, to Kosovar independence and Israeli-Palestenian peace talks. (CBS)
Diplomats are constantly juggling different problems and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s current trip to London, Jerusalem and Ramallah is a good example. Pushing the Bush administration’s Middle East peace initiative will dominate much of Rice’s time but it will by no means be the only big issue she has to deal with in the next few days.
In London Rice will sit down with fellow foreign ministers of the so-called P-5+1 group---Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France and Germany-to have yet another discussion on Iran and what steps that country is taking to develop nuclear weapons. Specifically, the meeting will look at the two tracks --- sanctions and incentives--- which are being pursued to persuade Tehran to stop its nuclear enrichment and reprocessing activities, so far with no success.
A senior State Department official travelling with Rice said she would devote part off her time in London to encouraging other countries to make good on their pledges of financial aid to the Palestinian Authority. The senior official said most members of the Arab League were "woefully short" in following through on payment of their pledges.
Even with three U N Security Council sanctions resolutions on the books Iran has given no real indication it will comply with the demands of the international community. Thus some of Rice’s partners want to sweeten the package of incentives being offered. Rice told reporters travelling with her to London she’s willing to review the package but, she said, “I don’t think the problem is the package. I think the problem is Iranian will.”
Rice will also have to deal with Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, about rising tensions between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two region of Georgia which border Russia and which have resisted rule from Tblisi. Moscow has taken several actions recently which the Bush administration sees as provocative and Rice says “it is extremely important that Russia accept the territorial integrity of Georgia.” Rice says she is very concerned about the situation, something the Russians already are well aware of.
Kosovo will also be on the diplomatic menu in London. Since Kosovo declared its independence in mid-February, Rice said “things have gone not too badly.” Rice wants to ensure there is no effort to partition the country and getting more European police on the ground there will help. There has been “a little bit of turbulence,” Rice concedes, “but nobody expected there’d be no turbulence.”
However, with President Bush about to visit Israel the middle of the month, talking to Israelis and Palestinians will take up most of Rice’s time in the coming days.
“I think they are making progress,” Rice told reporters en route to London. Senior Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have held many meetings and there have been few leaks to the press leading to speculation not much is happening. Rice said just because “one can’t see churning under the water” doesn’t mean there is no progress.
Still, those who have followed the talks say Rice is under pressure to make headway, especially with Mr. Bush soon to be in the region himself. Rice herself concedes there is a danger time will run out on the administration’s efforts. “You could argue the window (of opportunity) has gotten narrower and narrower over time,” Rice said. For now, the secretary of state emphasizes optimism: “I think it is far too early to have any sense of despair about the end of the year that has been set as a goal by both sides.”
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McRiceCain , just another loyal bushie
ever be invited to the bush ranch or other places she is stomping around now.
Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks And Kosovar Independence Also Key To Secretary Of State Condoleeza Rice''s Diplomatic Mission
-She never had a success in Diplomacy in 7.5 years now. Her only hope to stay around is to cling to the Eyran Nukelar Prorgasm! ffbrrrriiiiooowwww!!!!
What a dingleberry!
Sounds like your issue is rampant illegal aliens. Consider: no one wants the border closed to tomorrows illegal aliens more than TODAYS illegal aliens: they''re competing for the same jobs!
But what Republican farm or factory owner REALLY wants to cut himself off from a lifetime supply of DIRT CHEAP LABOR???
Think it over carefully, and you''ll know which party will be FORCED to do something about illegal aliens. ITS A LABOR ISSUE. The labor party will be forced to solve it. If you leave it to the Republicans, the ''solution'' will always be skewed to favor business, and BUSINESS in America benefits substantially from illegals competing with locals for jobs.
WANT SOME KOOL AID!
When u Bush losers and destroyers of the US economy get done we''ll all be broke paying for your neocon follies and wars to make the Halliburtons of the world richer.
Just what did CondiLoser ever do to gain all of this power. She''s had zero successes since assuming her latest role of Liar of State.
This is about the 10th story this week on CBS web about Iran WMD - I believe we are in another press run-up to an air attack on some part fo Iran. Bush wants to close the Persian Gulf completely so we can get to $8/gal gas this year before he declares marshal law right before the election.
Cun.taliiza is at it again,,,,/........
is it january 09 yet????
I''m sorry, I just had to laugh at that.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1736831-3,00.html
You might want to start in Cheney''s Halliburton office, since he is the one that sold the centrifuges to Iran and the company has gotten in trouble for supplying nuclear material to Iran as recently as 2005 (all on public record). Of course this has nothing to do with that for Chevron Rice, it''s about the pipe line Iran is going to build from the Caspian Sea to the Arabian Sea that her company is pissed off about. It will compete with her Afghanistan/Pakistan pipeline going from the Caspian Sea to the Arabian Sea and India.
Notice how the American media never talk about this pipeline EVER!!!
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by noloyalisti
May 2, 2008 8:37 PM EDT
- When is Chevron Rice going to speak out against America''s overfunded and dangerous nuclear arms. What a right wing nut job she is. And dangerous to human and other life.
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