This has not been a good week for right-wing ideologues.
Pakistan struck a deal with Taliban.
Defying the taunt of "Appeaser" with which Bush warned Olmert, and the threat of indictment for his relationship with Long Island Rabbi Moshe Talansky that Bibi Netanyahu hopes to use to replace Israel's sitting Prime Minister with his own sweet self, Ehud Olmert is courageously forging ahead with negotiations with Syria for the return of Golan Heights to Syria.
Now comes this news from CASMII, the Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran:
Iran presented its proposal for talks with the 5+1 group, entitled, "Package for Constructive Negotiations", to the United Nations.
Before long, think tankers are going to be vying for jobs flipping burgers. And the world will be a better place.
Let's see what Iran has offered:
CASMII posted an unofficial translation of a letter from Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Manuchehr Mottaki to United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon, dated 13 May 2008.
The Proposal centered on three major areas:
~Political and Security Issues
~Economic Issues
~The Nuclear Issue
Within the realm of Political and Security Issues, Iran proposed to:
1- Enter into dialogue aimed at realizing the protection of the rights and dignity of human being and respect for the culture of other nations.
2- Enter into talks on bolstering a just peace and advancement of democracy in the region and around the world based on:
a. Respect for the rights of nations and their national interests.
b. Support for the national sovereignty of states-based on democratic methods.
c. Prevention of terrorism and its contributing factors through strengthening a just peace and bolstering the stability and the advancement of democracy in regions that suffer from instability, militarism, violence and terrorism.
Regions to be discussed would include the Middle East, the Balkans, Africa, and Latin America.
Iran specifically proposed
"Cooperation to assist the Palestinian people to find a comprehensive plan - one that is sustainable, democratic, and fair - to resolve the 60-year old Palestinian issue can become a symbol of such collaboration."
In addition to the proposal to collaborate to fight terrorism, Iran proposed cooperation in efforts to fight
"common security threats, ...and collective collaborations on combating the factors which contribute to and create security threats, including:
- Terrorism
- Drugs
- Illegal immigration
- Organized crimes."
Mottaki's letter set some guidelines for Iran's collaboration with the 5+1:
- respect for the principles of justice,
- abidance by law, recognition of the
- rights of nations,
- respect for the sovereignty of states,
- reinforcement of regional and international peace,
- abstaining from monopolistic actions and threats,
- respect for democracy, human values and cultures of different nations; and
- rejecting the injustice and lawless behaviors towards the rights of nations.
In addition to hot-button issues of
security, regional and international developments, nuclear energy, terrorism, democracy, etc.
Iran suggested that there exists
a substantive potential for cooperation ... [in] fields that include
~drug control,
~environmental conservation,
and
~economic, technological, commercial & especially energy cooperation.
On the topic of Economic Issues, Iran's government proposed:
1- Cooperation on the provision of energy and its security - in the fields of production, provision, transportation and consumption.
2- Cooperation on trade and investment.
3- A common effort to help fight poverty in less developed countries and to reduce the divide between social classes.
4- Reducing the impact of sharp price fluctuations and retooling global monetary and financial arrangements to benefit the nations of the world.
Regarding The Nuclear Issue Iran's Letter to the United Nations said:
Iran is ready- in a comprehensive manner, and as an active
and influential member of the NPT and the IAEA- to consider the following issues:
1- Obtaining a further assurance about the non-diversion of the nuclear activities of different countries.
2- Establishing enrichment and nuclear fuel production consortiums in different parts of the world- including in Iran.
3- Cooperation to access and utilize peaceful nuclear technology and facilitating its usage by all states.
4- Nuclear disarmament and establishment of a follow up committee.
5- Improved supervision by the IAEA over the nuclear activities of different states.
6- Joint Collaboration over nuclear safety and physical protection.
7- An effort to encourage other states to control the export of nuclear material and equipment.
Motakki's letter to the UN Secretary General concluded with a general timetable, indicating that Iran is
"ready to start serious and targeted negotiations to produce a tangible result.
And that
The negotiations can be evaluated after a specific period of time (a maximum of 6 months) to decide about its continuation.
Question A: How will the Bush Administration respond?
Question B: How SHOULD the Bush Administration respond
Question C: How would an Obama administration respond to Iran's proposals?