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 "This Is No Time For 'Business As Usual'"Op-Ed by Ambassador Susan McCawDie PresseMay 9, 2007Reports that OMV plans a large-scale investment in Iran's natural gas sector have led to considerable discussion and speculation in the Austrian media. This is indeed a matter of concern to the US Government. Until now we have expressed our views to the Austrian government and to OMV in diplomatic and private channels because we believed that to be the best way to address our differences. We have not sought a public forum to express our opinion. But the argument is now being waged in the public media, and there is considerable misunderstanding and misrepresentation of the position of the United States on this issue. I appreciate the willingness of Die Presse to allow the US Embassy to present its views. The United States naturally has no objection to Austria's and Europe's interests in diversifying the sources of their energy supply. Diversification, in fact, is a pillar of President Bush's energy strategy. As a former businesswoman, I understand that private enterprise, and especially multinational concerns such as OMV, must make long-term investment decisions. I also understand the importance of multiple suppliers. However, I would argue that part of this strategic planning must include political realities: Who is your prospective partner? What is the political impact of your commercial decision? Nowhere are those questions more important than in the international community's dealings with Iran. I have heard the argument that "business is business and politics is politics." But can you honestly make those distinctions when it comes to a government that has publicly denied the Holocaust, pledged itself to the annihilation of the state of Israel, and refused to demonstrate that it is not seeking the nuclear weapons that could not only accomplish that annihilation but threaten global stability as well? In addition, Tehran continues to support terrorist activities, fails to grant Iran's citizens their basic freedoms, and has been unhelpful in international efforts to bring stability to regional neighbors such as Iraq and Lebanon. Is this the kind of partner Austria, or Europe, should be seeking out? The argument has also been made that the reported OMV deal with Iran violates no Austrian, EU or UN laws. True, but this again ignores political realities as well as the interests of the global community. The US, the EU and the UN have well-founded concerns over Iran's apparent pursuit of nuclear weapons and, on April 23, the EU announced it was tightening sanctions against the Teheran regime through the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1747, leveling additional, targeted sanctions on Iran. Our common approach to the regime includes the incentive of increased economic engagement with Iran - if Tehran agrees to suspend its enrichment-related and reprocessing activities. If Iran can receive the same kind of economic cooperation without taking any positive steps, it undermines the effect of this incentive, leaving us with fewer - and more confrontational - options for trying to convince Iran to work with us constructively. As one Austrian commentator noted, on the same day that reports of the OMV deal were announced to great fanfare in Teheran, "Austrians were feted as heroes - the message was.we have partners in the West." In other words, in securing this deal with OMV, the Iranian regime was able to play the US off against Europe, just as trans-Atlantic cooperation to tighten sanctions had begun to bear fruit. Commercial activities in Iran do not operate in a vacuum. They impact the political realm as well. Even a preliminary agreement impairs the sense of solidarity in confronting Iran's nuclear intentions, and it implies that Tehran can leverage its energy resources to maintain business as usual. This is a time when nations should recognize their common interests. The US remains committed to working with Austria and rest of the international community to find a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. Ultimately, OMV must make its own decision about the wisdom of its reported investment interest in Iran. But I hope that global public interest is a significant factor in that decision. Now is not the time for business as usual with Iran. e-mail: embassy@usembassy.at |
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