Solana under fire for lack of transparency over Iran plan

Date: 15/06/06

Javier Solana, EU's foreign policy chief, has been criticised by some member states for not keeping them informed on the incentive package made to Iran to abandon its nuclear programme, according to diplomats.

The comments prompted him to give a special briefing on the package to foreign ministers and top diplomats.

EU sources said that a number of member states were unhappy with a briefing on the offer to the Iranians made by Robert Cooper, director-general for foreign affairs at the Council of Ministers, to the Political and Security Committee (PSC) on 7 June, the day after the package was presented to the Iranians. The criticism came from a number of small member states but there has also been concern from larger countries such as Italy and Spain about the "lack of transparency" from Solana and the EU3 - France, the UK and Germany - who are talking directly to Tehran.

Delegations became more frustrated after details of the package leaked in the media after Solana presented the proposal in Tehran on 6 June.

There was additional concern about a lack of information as diplomats started discussing possible sanctions against Iran, such as asset freezes and visa bans, if the package was not accepted by Tehran. Several countries have significant investments in Iran's petrochemical industry and are concerned at the impact of measures.

According to EU diplomats, Solana was invited to give an extensive briefing on the terms of the offer to the member states' senior political and security diplomats in the PSC.

"There was a sense that Solana needed to do that," one EU diplomat commented. Another said: "This is supposed to be a Common Foreign and Security Policy."

Solana also addressed foreign ministers at length during lunch at their meeting in Luxembourg on 12 June. One diplomat said there was "general satisfaction" that this briefing had addressed concerns of a number of member states.

Cristina Gallach, spokeswoman for Solana, said: "I am not aware of any expressions of concern on the degree of information." She explained that a number of briefings were given by Solana and his team to the PSC and to EU ambassadors in Tehran and Vienna.

An EU official said that "in the final stage [of preparing the offer] it was important it was presented to the Iranians in a calm way without speculation". He stressed that throughout the process "everything has been done to keep [non-EU3] member states involved" with "regular updates to the PSC and the Council" of foreign ministers. But he admitted that at some stages, events and negotiations moved so quickly that it was not possible to have "24 hour consultations".

The offer, agreed by the EU and the US, plus Russia and China as permanent members of the UN Security Council, sets out a number of what diplomats call "incentives and disincentives" for Iran to abandon uranium enrichment which, western powers believe, could allow Tehran to develop nuclear weapons.

The EU's incentive package to Iran

The package, whose details have not been made official, includes a lightwater reactor for Iran to use nuclear power to meet its domestic energy needs and a range of commercial measures to improve Iran's economic situation such as help to join the World Trade Organization and parts for its ageing fleet of Boeing airliners. Sources say it also includes the possibility that Iran could operate a small-scale pilot uranium enrichment programme in the future but only if it suspends its current programme now. That concession would also depend on successful negotiations on Iran's nuclear capabilities. But the main breakthrough in the package is the possibility that the US, which broke off diplomatic relations with Tehran after US citizens were taken hostage in the 1970s, would take part in multi-party, direct negotiations with the Iranians.

The package also includes vague references to a "regional security forum" in an attempt to reassure Iran that a deal could address its security concerns. Solana spoke by telephone to Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijana yesterday (14 June) about the offer and has said he expects a response from Tehran in "the next few weeks". Well-placed sources believe Iran's next move will be to try to negotiate on the offer. The subject will be discussed at the EU-US summit on 21 June, the G8 foreign ministers meeting in Moscow on 28-29 June and the G8 summit on 15-16 July.

Article reports that, according to diplomats, Javier Solana, EU's foreign policy chief, was criticised by some EU Member States for not keeping them informed on the incentive package made to Iran to abandon its nuclear programme.