AFP, United Nations, 20 Sep 2012 – The United States, Britain and France warned Iran on Thursday that time is running out for a negotiated settlement to the showdown on its nuclear program.
“Time is wasting,” U.S. ambassador Susan Rice told a U.N. Security Council meeting on nuclear sanctions against Iran.
Iran is “at a crossroads,” Britain’s U.N. envoy Mark Lyall Grant told the meeting at which western nations also slammed Iran for its arms deliveries to Syria and alleged links to terrorism.
The meeting was held amid mounting speculation that Israel is planning a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is to speak at the U.N. General Assembly of world leaders next week.
A series of reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, have said Iran is stepping up uranium enrichment and not providing proof that its nuclear activities are peaceful.
The western powers say Iran is seeking a nuclear bomb but the Tehran government says its drive is peaceful.
Rice said the international powers — Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and United States — cannot pursue their nuclear talks with Iran “ndefinitely”.
“We will not engage in an endless process of negotiations that fail to produce any results. We must therefore remain clear and united in seeking resolution of the international community’s concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear program. Time is wasting,” the U.S. envoy said.
“The Iranian regime is at a crossroads,” said Britain’s ambassador.
“t can continue to ignore the international community’s concerns over its nuclear program, or it can negotiate a settlement that will help to realize the benefits of a civil nuclear program.
“t can support the oppressive regime in Syria in suppressing freedom, or it can play a constructive role in its region. It can be an exporter of terrorism or a responsible member of the international community. But it must make these choices soon,” Lyall Grant said.
France’s U.N. ambassador Gerard Araud said: “We are asking Iran to negotiate, but Iran is not negotiating.”
Behind the scenes of Syria’s revolution flag and banners
Thursday, 20 September 2012
By Al Arabiya
Freedom has unknown soldiers who usually remain hidden but whose acts can be clearly seen. This is the freedom industry.
As activists say, the making of flags and banners to be distributed among demonstrators is one of the dangerous activities persecuted by the security forces and the ‘Shabiha’. The activists hide their workplace for fear of being caught by the regime.
“The demonstrations that are taking place here need flags and many other things. The goods that are sold here cannot be found in the market,” an anonymous worker said.
“Nowadays, for instance, green and black fabrics cannot be found any longer on the market, and this is something new. This is why we gathered and decided to volunteer and take part in the revolution. We started bringing the needed material for painting and printing and started working here,” he added.
The tailors carry out their voluntary work and sew the flags of the revolution, writing their slogans on the fabric that becomes a banner for their principles.
In order for the world to know about their demands, they express themselves in writing on the banners, in the forms of messages to be read by millions across international TV channels. These works come out from behind the scenes and become one of the pillars of the demonstrations.