Downing Street Says

Asked what actions the Government was going to take this week on the Iran hostages, the PMOS replied that the Iranians knew our position. They knew that stage-managed TV appearances were not going to affect that position. They knew that we had strong international support, and we had responded to the Iranians initial letter, and we were now waiting for their response. There was a lot going on behind the scenes, but as people knew, it was better not to discuss this in any way. We remained very clear in our position and what our objective was, and we would judge our response day to day accordingly. At this stage, it was better that we waited to see what the Iranian response was.

Put that there was a holiday in Iran, and what would the next stages be, and what were we looking for now from the rest of the world, the PMOS said that there was a holiday in Iran, and it did impact a bit on the situation. At this stage, it was better to wait and see what the Iranian response was, and that meant that there was not much the PMOS could tell people that was new.

Asked if the UK Government had made a specific proposal for resolving the issue in the letter, the PMOS said that it was not useful for him to get into any details. It was better that people knew clearly where our position was, and whatever was shown on television screens coming out of Iran was not going to affect that position. What matters was how the Iranians responded next.

Asked for further information on Des Browne’s direct negotiations, the PMOS said that not only would he not use the word "negotiations", but also, in terms of discussions behind the scenes, it was better that he did not get into details.

Put that the PMOS did not contradict a journalist for using the word "hostages", and did we now regard the captured sailors as hostages, the PMOS said that again, what we did not want to get into was discussing particular words. What was important was that we achieved the objective, which was to get the 15 people back, and that we did that by increasing the international awareness and pressure on Iran to do the right thing. We had seen that pressure coming from the EU very strongly, as well as the UN, and now the US. Iran knew where we stood; we now needed to know where Iran stood.

Asked if there were any plans to go back to the UN or the EU, the PMOS said that what happened next depended on the Iranian response, and we would decide the next step then.

Asked if we were optimistic that the matter would be solved this week, the PMOS replied that we had to see what the Iranian response was.

5 Comments »

Who could have believed our Prime Minister would be able to prove yet again how a shrewd and clever politician he still is by rubbing the Iranian President Ahmedinejad of his own show. A discussion I have with my NHS fellow doctors at Wednesday eve had provoked me to prepare an article to appear on our African Muslim portal esinislam.com with title: Blair Sails Our Our Sailors From Persian Sea.

People like me, a medical doctor practicing in the United Kingdom and one of the proudest student of Sheikh Adelabu (Ph. D. Damas) as well as a regular visitor of esinislam.com could hardly understand the African Sheikh and academic when he said during his session Monday 2nd April 2007 that Iran would soon release the captives after the release of those Iranian diplomats held in Iraq…

Whatever we believe about the spectacular outcome, Mr. Blair is undoubtedly a star. He – the undisputable heavyweight champion of his own premiership has done it again. Although, president of the Islamic Republic of Iran was hailed throughout the world to have pardoned the British marines, it must be noted that it takes efforts and know-how to soften heart of an Iranian president. It would be an insult on the ‘rescued sailors’ if we deny Mr. Blair the applaud he deserves. Rather, we must once again say: Thank you Tony – once again!
Comment by Mary Kofi — 5 Apr 2007 on 5:44 pm | Link
Who could have believed our Prime Minister would be able to prove yet again how a shrewd and clever politician he still is by rubbing the Iranian President Ahmedinejad of his own show. A discussion I have with my NHS fellow doctors at Wednesday eve had provoked me to prepare an article to appear on our African Muslim portal esinislam.com with title: Blair Sails Our Our Sailors From Persian Sea.

People like me, a medical doctor practicing in the United Kingdom and one of the proudest student of Sheikh Adelabu (Ph. D. Damas) as well as a regular visitor of esinislam.com could hardly understand the African Sheikh and academic when he said during his session Monday 2nd April 2007 that Iran would soon release the captives after the release of those Iranian diplomats held in Iraq…

Whatever we believe about the spectacular outcome, Mr. Blair is undoubtedly a star. He – the undisputable heavyweight champion of his own premiership has done it again. Although, president of the Islamic Republic of Iran was hailed throughout the world to have pardoned the British marines, it must be noted that it takes efforts and know-how to soften heart of an Iranian president. It would be an insult on the ‘rescued sailors’ if we deny Mr. Blair the applaud he deserves. Rather, we must once again say: Thank you Tony – once again!
Comment by Mary Kofi — 5 Apr 2007 on 5:46 pm | Link
Mary Kofi. You are having a laugh. At least I hope so.
Comment by Walter — 7 Apr 2007 on 4:46 pm | Link
Mary
Leave the drugs alone.
They are for your patients.
Tony put them there, along with his inept admirals.
Comment by newbeard — 7 Apr 2007 on 6:45 pm | Link
Another low for New Labour in allowing the returning hostages to cash in and demeaning the whole military in the process. Watch out for Faye Turley turning up on Celebrity Big Brother later in the year. Maybe Ant and Dec could do a Summer Special of ‘I’m a Soldier in Afghanistan – Get Me Out of Here’. A hundred grand for the winner or a lifetime pass to Tessa Jowell’s Super Casino.
Comment by Steve in London — 9 Apr 2007 on 5:39 pm | Link

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» Monday, April 2, 2007

Iran

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