Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10COPENHAGEN64
2010-02-04 11:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Copenhagen
Cable title:
(C) IRAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM: DENMARK "FULLY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHCP #0064 0351105 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 041105Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5472 INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0088 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 2312 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1599 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000064
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/FO:ECATALANO AND ISN/RA:RNEPHEW
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2020
TAGS: PARM PREL UNSC IR DA
SUBJECT: (C) IRAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM: DENMARK "FULLY
SUPPORTS" SANCTIONS, BUT WORRIES ABOUT EFFECTIVENESS
REF: STATE 9124
Classified By: Ambassador Laurie S. Fulton; reason 1.4 (b, d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000064
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/FO:ECATALANO AND ISN/RA:RNEPHEW
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2020
TAGS: PARM PREL UNSC IR DA
SUBJECT: (C) IRAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM: DENMARK "FULLY
SUPPORTS" SANCTIONS, BUT WORRIES ABOUT EFFECTIVENESS
REF: STATE 9124
Classified By: Ambassador Laurie S. Fulton; reason 1.4 (b, d)
1. (C) In response to reftel demarche, MFA Mideast
Department Head Michael Lund Jeppesen told Acting DCM
February 2 that Denmark "fully supports" sanctions against
Iran, and they should be UNSC sanctions. He recalled that
Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller has been clear for a long
time that the Iranian regime has not been honest in its
dealings with the international community. At the same time,
Jeppesen made clear Denmark is trying to sharpen its own and
the EU's thinking on how to make sanctions effective. He
cited two concerns: sanctions typically take a very long
time to work (if ever) whereas we do not have the luxury of
time; and they tend to hurt the people more than the regime.
2. (C) Jeppesen's Iran Section Head Stig Paolo Piras noted
that the EU Foreign Affairs Council decided on January 25 to
start discussion of what actions the EU could take, but to
not get ahead of the UNSC for fear of undercutting the UNSC
process. Piras opined that financial sanctions would be most
effective, and noted that visiting Treasury DAS Glaser had
made that same point during his visit last week.
3. (C) The Danish officials stressed the importance of
having the best possible outreach to the Iranian people in
order to make clear that sanctions are not intended to hurt
them. They cited VOA and BBC Farsi services as having wide
audiences in Iran. Jeppesen admitted to being uncertain
where the Green Movement and the Iranian public stand on
nuclear policy.
4. (C) Jeppesen noted with concern Ahmedinajad's recent
trip to South America, including Brazil. He said the
dynamics at the UN climate-change summmit in Copenhagen
(COP-15) in December showed that new alliances are forming
that warrant careful analysis.
FULTON
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/FO:ECATALANO AND ISN/RA:RNEPHEW
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2020
TAGS: PARM PREL UNSC IR DA
SUBJECT: (C) IRAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM: DENMARK "FULLY
SUPPORTS" SANCTIONS, BUT WORRIES ABOUT EFFECTIVENESS
REF: STATE 9124
Classified By: Ambassador Laurie S. Fulton; reason 1.4 (b, d)
1. (C) In response to reftel demarche, MFA Mideast
Department Head Michael Lund Jeppesen told Acting DCM
February 2 that Denmark "fully supports" sanctions against
Iran, and they should be UNSC sanctions. He recalled that
Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller has been clear for a long
time that the Iranian regime has not been honest in its
dealings with the international community. At the same time,
Jeppesen made clear Denmark is trying to sharpen its own and
the EU's thinking on how to make sanctions effective. He
cited two concerns: sanctions typically take a very long
time to work (if ever) whereas we do not have the luxury of
time; and they tend to hurt the people more than the regime.
2. (C) Jeppesen's Iran Section Head Stig Paolo Piras noted
that the EU Foreign Affairs Council decided on January 25 to
start discussion of what actions the EU could take, but to
not get ahead of the UNSC for fear of undercutting the UNSC
process. Piras opined that financial sanctions would be most
effective, and noted that visiting Treasury DAS Glaser had
made that same point during his visit last week.
3. (C) The Danish officials stressed the importance of
having the best possible outreach to the Iranian people in
order to make clear that sanctions are not intended to hurt
them. They cited VOA and BBC Farsi services as having wide
audiences in Iran. Jeppesen admitted to being uncertain
where the Green Movement and the Iranian public stand on
nuclear policy.
4. (C) Jeppesen noted with concern Ahmedinajad's recent
trip to South America, including Brazil. He said the
dynamics at the UN climate-change summmit in Copenhagen
(COP-15) in December showed that new alliances are forming
that warrant careful analysis.
FULTON