EJP | News | Eastern Europe | Austrian FM: Iran heading in ‘wrong direction’

	Thursday, February 09, 2012 16 Shevat, 5772

News

France

Germany

Western Europe

Eastern Europe

EU-Israel affairs

US 2008 ELECTION

Iran - Holocaust

Conflict in Gaza

Voices

Culture

In Depth

Mideast Crisis

World Cup

On Anglo Jewry

Week at a glance

France Election

EU and Annapolis Summit

News from outside of Europe

Holocaust Remembrance Day

Mumbai Terror

DURBAN II

WILLIAMSON

Stories from our Readers

The Calendar

Links

Austrian FM: Iran heading in ‘wrong direction’

Updated: 25/Jan/2006 18:06

(R) Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik at the European Parliment in Brussels and German MEP Jo Leinen

Photo: HOPI-MEDIA Medienservice GmbH. A-1030 Wien

Page tools

	Email to friend
	Print this page
	Bookmark this page
	Add your view

Austria’s foreign minister Ursula Plassnik said Iran is heading in “the wrong direction”, in remarks she made on Tuesday at the European Parliament in Brussels.

“The resumption of nuclear activities and Iran’s attacks against Israel are bringing about a growing uneasiness,” she told the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee.

“At a moment when we need measures to create confidence, they are taking the wrong direction,” the minister said.

Greatest concern

The Austrian ministerial statement is the first on this issue since Austria took over the EU presidency from the UK on 1 January.

“The statements by the Iranian president are causing the greatest concern to us,” she added.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, an ultra-conservative who came to power in a surprise victory last June, has sparked international condemnation with a number of anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish remarks.

They include labelling Israel a "tumour" that should be "wiped off the map" or moved as far away as Alaska and claiming the Holocaust was a “myth” and a Western invention.

Security Council

The Iranian issue is likely to be discussed next Monday at a meeting of the 25 foreign ministers.

Moreover, Iran is currently at odds with the Unites States and the European Union about its purported plan to acquire a nuclear weapon.

The Council of Governors of the Vienna-based International Agency for Atomic Energy will hold a crucial meeting on this topic on 2 February.

The European Union and the United States have stepped up pressure on Iran to stop its uranium enrichment programme and are considering referring Iran to the United Nations Security Council, the sole international body which might impose sanctions on Teheran.

Daily quote

Ninety-seven saint days a year wouldn’t affect the theater, but two Yom Kippurs would ruin it

Brendan Behan, Irish author, who was born on 9 February 1923

Day in history

1994: Yugoslavia

Peace plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina announced (so called Vance-Owen peace plan)