ID :
229790
Sun, 02/26/2012 - 08:50
Auther :

Italian Peace Activist Cautions Gov't Against Following EU Oil Sanctions

Rome, Feb 26, IRNA – President of Rome-based International Committee for Education for Peace Massimo de Santi on Saturday cautioned the Italian government against following the US move about Iranian oil sanctions. He told IRNA in an exclusive interview that Italy risks losing golden opportunity of economic cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran if it follows the US sanctions on Iran. De Santi said that the European Union oil sanctions on Iran is tantamount to declaration of economic war in contravention of the international trade law. 'The wise approach for the Italian government is to distance itself from Washington-led sanctions on Iran,' de Santi said. He said that Iran gave appropriate response to the EU oil sanctions by cutting oil exports to Britain and France regarded as Washington's main allies. He said, however, that Tehran's decision to cut oil exports to UK and France will have little impact on their economies, because, Iranian oil makes up for one percent of British and French oil consumption, whereas, it makes up for 13 percent of Italian oil consumption and the figure is 30 percent for Greece. De Santi said that Iranian Foreign Ministry gave a notice to the Italian ambassador to Iran that the consequences of the EU oil sanctions must be shouldered by themselves. He said that cutting oil exports to Italy will have grave impacts on Italian economy as the Italian oil major, Eni, has said Iranian oil is unique in terms of quality for producing bitumen and cannot easily be replaced. He said that cutting Iranian oil exports to Italy will have negative impacts on price of food supplies, petrol and transport. De Santi said that Italian public opinion is concerned about the current economic crisis, inflation and hike of fuel prices. 'Unfortunately, Prime Minister Mario Monti in his latest meeting with US President Barack Obama in Washington, has voiced his commitment to Iran sanctions endangering a golden opportunity for economic cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran.' He called on the Italian government to distance itself from Washington's sanctions on Iran./end

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