Fresh worry for freeport over Iran sanctions busting
The EU could now ban the loading or unloading of cargo on and from vessels owned or chartered by IRISL or by such entities in ports of member states such as the Malta Freeport.
The European Union is debating a complete ban on the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines as part of a new round of sanctions in response to Teheran’s nuclear programme.
The loading and unloading of IRISL ships in EU ports will be illegal, according to a draft European Council regulation.
“It shall be prohibited,” the regulation states, “to load or unload cargo on and from vessels owned or chartered by IRISL or by such entities in ports of member states.”
The EU is targeting both the container line and associated companies.
The US Treasury Department yesterday listed 37 front companies based in Germany, Malta, and Cyprus which, it said, were owned, controlled by, or acting for the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and its affiliates. It said that its action targeted IRISL’s complex network of shipping and holding companies and executives and further exposed Iran’s use of its national maritime carrier to advance its illicit weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programme. (see separate story at http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101027/local/us-lists-malta-based-companies-individuals-involved-in-iran-sanctions-busting )
The EU law, if approved, will effectively banish IRISL from Europe and will affect transhipment hubs such as Malta, where IRISL traffic accounts for between five and 10 per cent of the Freeport’s turnover of trans-shipment cargo. Iran’s shipping line also provides important links for domestic (local market) imports and exports to and from South East Asia, the Middle East and a number of Mediterranean ports.
According to the draft regulation, IRISL vessels will be able to continue calling in the EU. There is no requirement for the ships to be impounded; neither do crew need to be detained. But unlike previous legislation, this time EU law-makers are targeting the line’s cargo.
Last July the EU imposed new restrictions on Iran in the areas of foreign trade, financial services and the oil and gas sectors, and gave the go-ahead for increased inspections of Iranian vessels. More than 40 individuals and 50 companies were blacklisted as a result of the EU sanctions.
However, the EU had decided against a ban of IRISL operating in EU territory, even though this was originally considered. Foreign Minister Tonio Borg had told The Times Business that the EU’s measures against Iran were a compromise between the member states.
“The EU increased its sanctions on Iran in a number of sectors including shipping. Malta and a number of countries argued that it made more sense to have more stringent inspections of vessels belonging to Iran’s shipping line than to ban these ships from EU territory,” he had said.
However, Dr Borg had also said that the EU sanctions would be reviewed and “could go either way” depending on Iran’s behaviour over its nuclear programme.
The EU sanctions were imposed in the hope that Iran would resume negotiations about its nuclear activities and stop its enrichment of uranium.
The United Nations Security Council also recently imposed additional sanctions against Iran which include restrictions on IRISL such as in bunkering and financing. The United States has its own unilateral trade, travel and financial sanctions against Iran.
So far economic sanctions have not stopped Iran from continuing with its nuclear programme and its enrichment of uranium, which Teheran insists is for peaceful purposes.
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Darren Chetcuti
Oct 28th 2010, 20:14
It would be mistake to ban trade with Iran. In times of political frictions and turmoil, commerce could be that common interest which would keep the two spheres close to each other. A trade ban could encourage Iran to become even more aggressive in its relationship vis-a-vis the west.
J. Cachia
Oct 28th 2010, 15:42
@T. CAMILLERI
FULLY AGREE WITH YOU.
Them organs are all under american israel payroll , headed by american jewish
personell.
In their obstenacy they beleive what ever suit them to say or impose must be followed
obeyed no questions no challenge.
Beleiving they are supreme, all others are their puppets.
On the swiss matter blame on our ministry shoulders. Any action should always be to
MALTA / MALTESE interest first, then questions / answers later.
Thanks
Martin Cassar
Oct 28th 2010, 14:44
Actually the USRAEL can do nothing with Iran.
The count down of the USA [as we knew it today] has began almost two decades ago. The USA is facing two deep and irreversible financial and military dilemmas and losing its muscles in the international arena.
Former USA administration have put the entire world at the edge of bankruptcy (Billions of $$$ were spent on now nine years old useless wars that didn’t achieve a thing). Iraq war was a grubby little war started by grubby little men.
Wars only occur where weapons of mass destruction and deterrent weapons don’t exist. What about Iraq and North Korea examples?In 2003-while North Korea was testing nuclear long-range missiles and defying the International community (USA), the latter went to attack Iraq instead. Wasn’t the message sent by the USA clear enough to read: If you don’t have a deterrent weapon you have no place on planet Earth?Should the USA’ foreign policy hold responsibility for creating instability and conditions for what’s called ‘terrorism’?Why the USA keep on hindering tax payer’s money on wars to protect pariah Zionists gangs and same administrations are frugal when it comes to providing aid and peace promotion?
MICALLEF A.
Oct 28th 2010, 13:42
USA -ISRAEL - UK - FRANCE = TROUBLE AND CREATING MISERY IN
OTHER COUNTRIES. THIS IS THEIR PAST, THEIR PRESENT AND MAYBE
THEIR FUTURE.
Christian Sciberras
Feb 17th 2011, 12:35
And your next line would be "Libya, Morocco and North Korea are heavens on Earth", right?
joseph cachia
Oct 28th 2010, 13:26
@T. CAMILLERI
No Sir, we ain't under any obligation to U.N.
Them rules are illegal, so no obligation to follow.
To be observed, rules must bear a justification not biased towards america / izrael who
are causing WORLD problems.
Nato / Un organs are under the american pocket dollar dictatum and rules are imposed
to suit dollar domination only, therefore illegal
T Camilleri
Oct 28th 2010, 13:41
Mr joseph cachia, perhaps I did not make myself clear enough. We have to abide by decisions taken by the Security Council and not by the General Assembly. Does anyone think that Switzerland stayed out of the UN while having so many UN HQ's in Geneva just for the fun of it?
joe zerafa
Oct 28th 2010, 13:06
bhalissa taf kemm edin nahdmu il partimers gol freeport darba kull 11 il gurnata mil hazin ghal ghar u plus hekk nihdu 58e ta 8sijat u jekk tahdem darba fgima johodlok nofsa il gvern bolla tal biza eh u iktar idahlu partimers
n mifsud
Oct 28th 2010, 15:21
tinsiex li int part timer!! ma tippretendiex li tidhol flok haddiehor ux???!!!
joseph cachia
Oct 28th 2010, 12:41
The EU opted to be under american influence and dictatum and proposing law to
ban IRANIAN interest in operating its cargo handling through registered companies in
EUROPE.
Whatever IRAN imports or embark on, is for their own country requirments and security against america / israeli intentions to INVADE IRAN for it's OIL and to settle a grudge that
humilated america when kicked out of IRAN
IRAN never threatened EUROPE nor intended to harm any EURPEAN country
Our minister being naive in such matters should heed to our feelings and openly vote against any EU proposal , not drawing MALTA into american / izrael intentions and void arguements. WE ARE'NT THEIR PUPPETS.
What EU should follow and enforce is a BOYCOTT on imports from izrael / america till
izrael withdraw from PALESTINIAN LANDS,, and stop it's concession to izraeli
labeled agriculture products stolen from PALESTINIAN farmers to enter in european markets
P. Montebello
Oct 28th 2010, 11:31
I was really struck by the wording used " illicit weapons of mass destruction".
Are these weapons similar to those searched for but never found in Iraq? And what about transporting the weapons to Saudi Arabia under a very recent agreement between the USA and that country? AH but maybe these weapons, since they originate from America are maybe peaceful weapons and just cause small destruction!!
$$$$$$$$$$
P Sciberras
Oct 28th 2010, 11:06
If the USA can compensate Malta Freeport for any revenue loss,than by all means it should coooperate in the sanctions.If not ,don t cut the hand that feed you.
T Camilleri
Oct 28th 2010, 11:38
Why should Malta kowtow the USA when it want to imopse more sanctions than those imposed by the UN? We are under no legal obligation to kowtow to whatever the USA and the EU says about Iran sanctions. We are only under a legal obligation to follow sanctions ordered by the UN. Even the Europeans are revolting against the USA double standards especially in security measures that it wants to continue to impose on Europeans flying to the USA when the USA itself does not implement those security measures on its own internal flights when many terrorists were home grown in the USA.
joseph cachia
Oct 28th 2010, 13:06
No, No, we are'nt their JUDAS nor their PUPPETS
Let freeport be freeport.
Any country welcome to use the facility to their own requirments, pay it's due's
and keep our MALTESE port workers busy .
We cannot be let caught in america izrael void comments / accusations for their
own interest.
We can only side with a PEACEFULL country who seek no invasions nor killings of
innocents but seeking it's own population safety and security
n mifsud
Oct 28th 2010, 10:33
allahares ma tidholx aktar fil freeport ta Malta din il kumapnija ghax kieku zgur ifalli u min jaf kemm se jintilfu inpiegi..bhalissa il freeport u il haddiema b'din il kumpanija qed izommu!!!
F. Abela
Oct 28th 2010, 10:24
Why should Europe always bow down to America's requests ? Looks like America is turning its eyes to Iran to become another Iraq, Afghanistan perhaps ? By the same token one should order sanctions against Israel for not adhering to United Nations decrees. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
John Frendo
Oct 28th 2010, 11:42
F. Abela you are perfectly correct. Israel has over 200 nukes and the USA helped them instead of imposing sanctions. This is the double-faced USA and its Presidents and policy. They should stop interfering in other countries affairs if they don't want people to retaliate with whatever means they have at their disposal against the USA arrogance. One also remembers the more than 50 years embargo against Cuba by the supposedly democratic (democratic my foot) USA which is causing great hardships to the people. Disgusting USA and its policies.
mario gellel
Oct 28th 2010, 10:04
Me or any other Maltese fellow brother for that matter are not happy with the freeport ban since both political partiesdid thier best in different ways to make it succeed.
But I cannot be more discusted with this Govt ministers behavior when on every issui they lie and lie.
A few months ago, we were told that these sanctions will not effect us.
Now we are being told that they can work both ways.
For God's sake, can this Administation for once be true to it' citizens, and not treat them like Fools????
R Spiteri
Oct 28th 2010, 10:44
Stop inventing such cries....
Joe Bonnici
Oct 28th 2010, 11:46
R Spiteri do you want to deny the truth? Are you one of those who believes that Gonzipn says the truth like he said on reducing the income tax? Someone kindly provided this link. Go see and hear him saying so before the general election and see whether he can ever be believed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5NTiQMGJ8s&feature=player_embedded
M.Mifsud
Oct 28th 2010, 10:01
Sanctions never work since they harm the population which is innocent...Iran will still get support from Russia and China etc..and secondly what's the point...they will still build it (nuclear facility).
Adriano Spiteri
Oct 28th 2010, 09:59
Europe and the Europeans. Two separate entities.
The mindbenders are forcing Europe to ban trade with Iran. Why? Because it doesn't want them to develop nuclear energy, fearing they would also produce nuclear weapons in the process.
In other words fearing that they'd become another France, another UK, another US, another Israel, another Russia... We can but they cannot: such is the EU's mentality.
Why, then, would sensitive and dictatorial EU ban trade with Israel for occupying Palestinian territory and for implementing a racist oath of allegiance?
Adriano Spiteri
Oct 28th 2010, 10:29
Correction: "Why, then, wouldN'T sensitive and dictatorial EU..."
Charles Sammut
Oct 28th 2010, 11:11
We can't have sanctions imposed against Israel for its abyssmal human rights record, for its war crimes against Palestinian civilians and for illegally occupying Palestinian territories. Can you imagine the wails labeling us Anti-semites, Nazis, Fascists and terrorists were such a thing to happen?
In any case there is Israel's lackey, the US to veto any U.N. Security Council resolution against the Zionist state.
walter camilleri
Oct 28th 2010, 11:34
In case all you people have not noticed, Iran is the only nuclear power (or aspiring nuclear power) that has called for another country to be obliterated and wiped off the map. Not even North Korea has said that about the South.
A country that is governed by people who have applauded 9/11 in which innocent people, atheists, muslims and Christians were killed to satisfy their blood lust agaainst the West needs to be watched with very great caution. That is why no country wants Iran to have the atom bomb - with the winds in the right direction, if the bomb Israel, the fallout could reach
Malta and harm all of us, including those who obviously hate America.
H. Schembri
Oct 28th 2010, 09:47
Read an interesting article on how the US were involved in helping Iran to establish a nuclear program and now that they are no more involved they want to ban it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_program_of_Iran.