Sunday, 08 February 2009

AFP, Munich, Germany, February 7, 2009 (excerpts) – Foreign Secretary David Miliband urged Iran on Saturday to seize the chance of achieving better relations with the West, saying conditions are “not going to get any better.”
“It is not going to get any better than this. It’s not going to get better than an American administration saying we want normal relations with Iran,” Miliband told an international security conference in Munich, Germany.
He also urged his European allies to do more to back the new US administration of President Barack Obama, by ensuring that Iran could face sanctions if it does not seize this opportunity.
“We in Europe, while applauding the determination of the United States to stretch out a hand to Iran, have got to realise that the United States will be far, far better off in reaching out that hand if they’re able to say: ’if we’re not met by an outstretched hand from Iran, very serious and very tough sanctions will follow’,” he said.