Profit/Loss of Swiss Hypocrisy
Posted on April 23, 2008
Filed Under Economy, News, Politics, Terrorism
Switzerland is doing a pretty bad job trying to maintain its neutrality.
On one hand this central European country signs a $28 Billion energy deal with Iran:
TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran and Switzerland on Monday signed a major agreement for Iranian gas exports to a Swiss company, in a rare energy deal between Tehran and the West as their nuclear showdown drags on.
“Today we witnessed the signing of a gas contract between the two countries,” Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki announced at a joint news conference with his Swiss counterpart Micheline Calmy-Rey.
Financial details were not disclosed but the contract between Iran’s state gas firm and Switzerland’s Elektrizitaets-Gesellschaft (EGL) Laufenburg reportedly envisages Iran supplying 5.5 billion cubic metres (194 trillion cubic feet) of gas annually from 2011 2009 (WD).
On the other hand it slaps Iran with sanctions.
GENEVA, April 23, 2008 (AFP) - Switzerland said on Wednesday it had frozen the assets of a further 12 Iranian companies in accordance with new United Nations sanctions aimed at stopping Tehran’s alleged nuclear programme.
The 12 companies, and 13 individuals, have been added to an existing blacklist of 23 companies and 27 people. Five Iranian nationals are also banned from entering and passing through Switzerland, the country’s Federal Council said in a statement.
Switzerland will also ban the delivery of so-called “dual use” materials that could be used for the manufacture of nuclear plants, and the export of some drones and missiles, the statement said.
The UN Security Council last month imposed its third set of sanctions against Iran in the space of 15 months to punish Tehran’s refusal to suspend uranium enrichment, which world powers fear Iran could use to make nuclear weapons.
The resolution gives Iran three months to comply with demands to suspend uranium enrichment, and includes an outright ban on travel by officials involved in Tehran’s nuclear and missile programmes, as well as broadening a list of individuals and entities subject to an assets freeze.
Switzerland’s own trade and diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic have come under fire in recent months after foreign minister Micheline Calmy-Rey travelled to Tehran in March to sign a gas deal.
If we do the math - a simple profit/loss count - it’s easy to see that Iranians would not mind that asset freeze. 12 individuals and 23 companies - I doubt they worth $28 Billion.
It is safe to assume that the details of these sanctions were agreed upon the signing of energy deal. Nothing personal…pure business.
Which side Switzerland is on? As always - it’s own. And they don’t mind becoming one of the biggest terror financiers (because this is exactly what they are after signing that deal). After all, they have a rich previous experience - Hitler’s bankers, anyone? It’s amazing how history repeats itself.
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