Lib Dems call for incentives to be offered to Iran

Islamic Republic News Agency:

The European Union should offer Iran a new set of proposals to break the deadlock in negotiations over the country's nuclear programme, Britain's third party, the Liberal Democrats has suggested.

"We must seek to re-engage the Iranians; to dissuade them, through incentives and security guarantees, from pursuing uranium enrichment-related activities," the party's shadow Foreign Secretary Sir Menzies Campbell said. READ MORE

He told delegates at the Lib Dem's annual conference in Blackpool, northern England, Monday, that the "apparent failure of the EU 3 dialogue with Iran should concern us all." Last month, Iran rejected a package of proposals offered by Britain, France and Germany under the terms of the Paris Agreement, seeking long-term arrangements to ease concerns over its nuclear programme.

Amongst other, the British American Security Information Council (Basic) described the offer as "vague on incentives and heavy on demands" and also called on the EU to "reconsider and strengthen their offer" to maximize the chance of a positive resolution.

Campbell, who has been outspoken in his party's opposition to the Iraq war, did not comment on current moves by the EU, under pressure from the US, to call for Iran's case to be immediately referred to the UN.

But he said that only "if all else fails and the matter does reach the Security Council, Britain must press for firm but proportionate measures." "An excessive response will prove counter-productive. There could be no more excessive response than military action," the shadow foreign secretary said.

He referred to Foreign Secretary Jack Straw describing military action against Iran as 'inconceivable' and said that on this, he had the Lib Dem's support.

Campbell, who is also the party's deputy leader, further called on the British government in his speech to start withdrawing troops from Iraq.

"The Iraq war was and is no justification for acts of terrorism in Iraq or elsewhere. But what we must recognise is that foreign policy decisions have contributed to the threat. It is disingenuous to say that military action in Iraq has not made Britain a more dangerous place," he said.

The shadow foreign secretary also said that stability in the Middle East cannot be achieved without a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"Withdrawal from Gaza (by Israel) is welcome in itself but it must herald a return to the road map. Political momentum must be sustained.

Palestinians must be shown a credible political and economic future," he said.
Campbell also warned that the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements on the West Bank "must be halted" and that there must be "an end to the blighting of the daily lives of Palestinians by the illegal security barrier."