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Non-Aligned Movement Summit – big focus on Iran nuclear issue

A total of 29 heads of state or government are attending the Teheran summit, including those of Afghanistan, India, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, the Palestinian Authority, Sudan, Qatar and Zimbabwe.

Iran nuclear issue, Syria dominate tense Teheran summit, Khaleej Times, (AFP) / 30 August 2012 Iran’s showdown with the UN Security Council over its nuclear activities, and clashing speeches over the bloody conflict shaking Syria dominated the opening of a summit in Teheran on Thursday.
Those issues swept aside the veneer of diplomatic harmony Iran had been trying to project over the gathering of 120 members of the Non-Aligned Movement and left several leaders squirming in their seats.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei opened the session with a speech in which he insisted his country ‘is never seeking nuclear weapons’ and accusing the UN Security Council of exerting an ‘overt dictatorship’ under the sway of its Western permanent members, the
United States, Britain and France.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who looked irritated during the speech, shot back in his own address that Iran should build confidence in its nuclear programme by ‘fully complying with the relevant (UN) Security Council resolutions and thoroughly cooperating with the IAEA’ — the
UN’s nuclear watchdog. Continue reading →

August 31, 2012 Posted by | MIDDLE EAST, politics international | Leave a comment

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon’s discussions with Iran’s leaders

Ban also told the Iranian leaders that Iran needed to take concrete steps to address the concerns of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and prove to the world that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

UN chief discusses nuclear issue, Syria, human rights with Iran UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) English News, 30 Aug 12,  — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Wednesday held talks with Iranian leaders on such issues as nuclear standoff, Syria and human rights ahead of a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Iran’s capital Tehran, Ban’s spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters here…. Continue reading →

August 30, 2012 Posted by | Iran, politics international | Leave a comment

Unlikely that Israel would attack Iran

Four reasons why Israel probably won’t attack Iran Telegraph, By David Blair World August 23rd, 2012 “…..1. War with Iran would be bad for Israel. The Iranian people would probably respond to outside attack by rallying behind their leaders and strengthening a deeply unpopular regime. Iran would hit back through Hizbollah in Lebanon and by trying to close the Strait of Hormuz, with serious civilian casualties in Israel and incalculable consequences for the global economy. In Syria, Bashar al-Assad would have the opportunity to pose alongside Iran as a dual victim of a Zionist plot against the Muslim world. It might be just the boost that Assad needs. And the best the Israeli air force could achieve would be to delay – not derail – Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Continue reading →

August 24, 2012 Posted by | Israel, politics international | Leave a comment

Syrian envoy responds forcefully to suggestion of Israel attacking Syria

Syrian envoy: We’ll destroy Israeli nuclear facilities with 20 missiles Jordanian media report that Syria’s ambassador in Amman, Bahjat Suleiman said that his country is capable of destroying Israel’s nuclear facilities should Damascus come under attack YNet, Roi Kais   08.23.12,   Continue reading →

August 24, 2012 Posted by | politics international, Syria | 1 Comment

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to visit Iran

UN chief to visit Iran in defiance of US, Israel China Daily,  2012-08-23
* Ban to attend non-aligned summit in Iran – UN
* U.S., Israel had urged Ban to boycott Tehran summit
* UN chief to raise concerns about Iran nuclear work, Syria
* Ban hopes to meet with Iran’s supreme leader, president Continue reading →

August 23, 2012 Posted by | Iran, politics international | Leave a comment

VIDEO: Norway cops radioactive water waste from UK’s Sellafield nuclear site

Norway’s Nuclear Problem  http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/thalassa/ Radioactive material from the Sellafield nuclear plant in the UK has been detected in Norwegian waters.In the early 1990s in Norway, scientists discovered the presence of radioactive material in the seawater, seaweed and lobster.  But Norway has no nuclear facilities, and no nuclear weapons, so it had to be coming from another country.

Russia was a prime suspect, but it is in fact in southern Scotland on the edge of the Irish Sea that the problem originated.  Over fifty years ago the British government built the Sellafield plant to produce electricity and plutonium for the making of atomic bombs. Now it has reconverted into a nuclear waste processing plant, but security is still not guaranteed and fires, leakage and accidental toxic discharge have occurred over the years.
Some speak of negligence. Environmental activists around the world are on the case, demanding the closure of the site once and for all. In 1997, a huge rock concert was organised by U2 to raise the alarm.

August 13, 2012 Posted by | oceans, politics international, Resources -audiovicual, wastes | Leave a comment

Agressive statements from Israel leaders upsetting Iran, and upsetting Israel’s military leaders

The report claimed that the prime minister and the defense minister were encountering stiff resistance to the idea of ordering the strike now from military and intelligence chiefs

Talk of military strike ‘makes Tehran nervous’ Jerusalem Post, By YAAKOV LAPPIN08/13/2012 Israeli media continue to be dominated by reports of supposed imminent strike on Iran’s nuclear program.ran is disturbed by threats emanating from Israel to strike its nuclear sites and takes such threats seriously, a senior Iran expert told The
Jerusalem Post. Continue reading →

August 13, 2012 Posted by | Iran, Israel, politics international | Leave a comment

Tanzania uranium project held up till Australian company Mantra pays taxes

Tanzania: Uranium Project Licence Shelved Till Tax Bill Paid, Beyond Nuclear 12 Aug 12,  Dodoma – A SPECIAL mining licence to allow Russian firm, Uranium One start mining at Mkuju River in the Selous Game Reserve buffer zone, will not be issued until Australian Mantra Resources pay over 180 million US dollars (approx. 292.12bn/-) in taxes, the Parliament was told.

 Mantra Resources sold majority of its shares to Atomredmetzoloto (ARMZ) of Russia for 980 million US dollars (approx. 1.54trn/-) last year, according to Kigoma North lawmaker, Zitto Kabwe.
Minister for Energy and Minerals, Prof Sospeter Muhongo, made the remarks while responding to a main question from Mkoani MP, Ali Khamis Seif (CUF), who wanted to know the government’s benefit from the Mkuju uranium mining project.
Prof Muhongo said his ministry’s experts were meeting with Uranium One representatives and State Mining Corporation (Stamico) to discuss a number of issues, including the project’s shares, that would also involve the local communities in the mining area.
“I can assure you that the licence has not been issued and we are very careful with the current negotiations,” said Prof Muhongo. The minister pointed out that his team was shifting from the ‘business as usual’ practice to ensure that the nation and communities benefit from mining.
“We want to make sure the government gets its fair share of revenue including dividend. Local communities should not be forced to rely on generosity of mining companies. They have to benefit directly,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Kabwe sought the Speaker’s guidance to alert the minister that the Tanzania Revenue Authority was still pressing Mantra Resources to pay 20 per cent taxes after selling its majority stake to ARMZ last year.
“Let us avoid the mistakes we made that resulted in huge losses in the gold mining projects,” the fiery lawmaker who is also Deputy Leader of the official opposition in parliament said. Prof Muhongo said his ministry was in contact with its Malawian and Namibian counterparts who have ongoing uranium mining projects.
“Malawi has the only known uranium mining project in the region and as such, we are learning from their experience,” the minister noted.

August 13, 2012 Posted by | AFRICA, politics international, Uranium | Leave a comment

Diplomacy the way to go: Iran not close to making nuclear weapons

U.S. still believes Iran not on verge of nuclear weapon  Aug 9, 2012   (Reuters) – The United States still believes that Iran is not on the verge of having a nuclear weapon and that Tehran has not made a decision to pursue one, U.S. officials said on Thursday…..

a White House National Security Council spokesman disputed the Israeli reports, saying the U.S. intelligence assessment of Iran’s nuclear activities had not changed since intelligence officials delivered testimony to Congress on the issue earlier this year.

“We believe that there is time and space to continue to pursue a diplomatic path, backed by growing international pressure on the Iranian government,” the spokesman said. “We continue to assess that Iran is not on the verge of achieving a nuclear weapon.”…. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/09/us-israel-iran-usa-idUSBRE8781GS20120809

August 10, 2012 Posted by | Iran, politics international | Leave a comment

U.S. To Provide Access To Marshall Islands Nuclear Test Documents

Marshalls maintains demand for full disclosure of classified information By Giff Johnson SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, Aug. 8, 2012) – In response to a strong statement of concern from the Marshall Islands government about the lack of access to classified information about United States nuclear testing in this western Pacific nation more than 50 years ago, a top State Department official has promised to initiate a review of data available for public release.

“Some documents provided in the past were so heavily redacted as to make them unreadable,” said Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Island Affairs Kurt Campbell at a media conference after meeting with President Christopher Loeak in Majuro Thursday evening. “It is fair to ask the United States to see if we’ve provided the Marshall Islands with the information it needs to understand more fully (the nuclear test legacy).”…. http://pidp.org/pireport/2012/August/08-08-09.htm

August 10, 2012 Posted by | OCEANIA, politics international, USA | Leave a comment

Call for Russian accountability in nuclear power reactors sold to India

Bring Russia under N-liability clause: Activists  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bring-Russia-under-N-liability-clause-Activists/articleshow/15370086.cms  TNN | Aug 6, 2012,  CHENNAI: People’s Movement for Nuclear Energy (PMANE) on Sunday demanded that the Centre scrap the 2008 Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) with Russia as it puts the onus on the Indian government and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) for any damage in the event of an accident occurring at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) site in Tamil Nadu.

PMANE convenor S P Udayakumar, in a letter to MPs from TN and other states, stated that the agreement in effect boiled down to the Russian government or their companies having no liability whatsoever for their technology and the equipment used at the site.

He said that under Article 13 of the IGA, the operator of the power plant units at the site would be fully responsible for any damage within and outside the Indian territory caused to any person and property. This simply allows the polluter to go scot free.

He said any blanket waiver to the foreign suppliers would make the Nuclear Liability Act a cruel joke. “Russians claim that the Kudankulam reactors are the best and the safest in the world. If that is so, why should they shy away from offering any liability for their technology and components, but keep insisting that the Indian operator, NPCIL, is responsible for all damages?” he asked.

PMANE’s reaction comes in the wake of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh questioning the department of atomic energy’s decision not to exercise its ‘right to recourse’ in the event of a nuclear accident in the up-coming units 3 and 4.

August 6, 2012 Posted by | India, politics international | Leave a comment

A new obstacle to Kudankulam nuclear plant

Kudankulam nuclear plant hits new hurdle, PM asks who will pay for mishap http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/pm-says-no-to-the-russians-in-the-kudankulam-project-250419  by Sunil Prabhu, Edited by Prasad Sanyal August 02, 2012 New Delhi: The Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu has run up against new hurdles. This time, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wants to know from the Department of Atomic Energy who will pay if there is a mishap at the power plant.

The PM, who is also the Minister for Atomic Energy, is questioning the department’s decision not to exercise the right to recourse – for units 3 and 4 of the project – in the event of a mishap at the plant. The plant is being built with Russian collaboration and the Russians have said they are keen that right to recourse should not apply to any part of this project. That would mean that the Russians will have no liability in case of an accident.

The PM has said that if such a waiver is granted to the Russian partners, other countries like the US and France, partnering India on such projects, will seek waiver too. Continue reading →

August 3, 2012 Posted by | India, politics international | Leave a comment

Smith rejects proposal for US carrier base ABC Radio AM By Naomi Woodley   August 02, 2012 Defence Minister Stephen Smith has flatly rejected a proposal to expand a naval base in Perth to accommodate US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier groups.

The idea for a $7 billion US carrier base on Australia’s Indian Ocean seaboard is one of many canvassed in a report commissioned by the US Defence Department from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies  think tank.

Mr Smith says while increased US access to the HMAS Stirling base is on the cards in the long term, American aircraft carriers will not be based in Australia. ”The report is an independent report to the United States government. It’s not a United States government document,” he said.

“We don’t have United States military bases in Australia and we are  not proposing to. What we have talked about in terms of either increased aerial access or naval access is precisely that – greater access to our facilities.” The West Australian Premier and Opposition Leader have also ruled out the aircraft carrier base idea………….
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-02/smith-rejects-us-base-proposal/4171086

August 2, 2012 Posted by | AUSTRALIA, politics international | Leave a comment

France stressing diplomacy in approach to Iran nuclear issue

Hollande highlights importance of dialogue about Iran nuclear issue Tehran Times, 13 July 12, TEHRAN – French President Francois Hollande has highlighted the importance of dialogue between Iran and the six major powers about the country’s nuclear issue.

Hollande made the remarks during a meeting with new Iranian ambassador to France, Ali Ahani, on Wednesday. He also said that France is closely monitoring the process of talks
between Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) while respecting the Islamic Republic’s independence.   …..
http://www.tehrantimes.com/politics/99558-hollande-highlights-importance-of-dialogue-about-iran-nuclear-issue

July 14, 2012 Posted by | France, politics international | Leave a comment

Iran ready to negotiate on uranium enrichment

Iran May Consider Halt To 20% Uranium Enrichment, Press TV Says By Ladane Nasseri – Jul 7, 2012 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-08/iran-may-consider-halt-to-20-uranium-enrichment-press-tv-says.html An Iranian parliament lawmaker said his country is willing to consider the temporary suspension of 20-percent uranium enrichment as part of a negotiated accord, state-run Press TV news channel reported.

In return the so-called P5+1 — U.S., U.K., France, China, Russia and Germany — must agree to meet the country’s needs for 20-percent enriched uranium, said Mohammad-Hassan Asferi, a member of the Parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee, according to Press TV.

Iran would be willing to suspend its 20-percent enrichment activity for a specific period if western powers meet its enrichment needs during this time, Asferi said, adding that permanent suspension is “by no means acceptable.”

Iran would also expect sanctions to be lifted and the nuclear dossier to be pulled out of the UN Security Council and referred back to the International Atomic Energy Agency, he said, according to Press TV.

July 9, 2012 Posted by | Iran, politics international, Uranium | Leave a comment

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