Corfu, Greece - UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband
expressed reluctance on Saturday for new sanctions against Iran in
the wake of violence following elections.
'We should leave no room for excuse. The debate taking place in
Iran is in reality a debate between Iran and the West,' said Miliband
on the sidelines of a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council and
Organization for Security and Co-operation, which is currently taking
place on the Greek island of Corfu.
He said sanctions were not an option that should be sought by the
European Union.
'The debate with Iran should continue ... we all have a clear
position and that is for the Iranian people to choose their
government and for the Iranian government to protect their own people
against violence.'
Agreeing with Miliband, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said
there should be other options if sanctions are not applied against
Iran.
Many of the 28 foreign ministers gathering on Corfu for the NATO-
Russia Council meeting will stay through Sunday for an informal
European Union review of ties with Iran over its post-election
crackdown on opposition protesters.
Iranian authorities have rejected a call for annulment of the vote
by reformist former prime minister Mirhossein Mousavi, who led mass
protests after he was declared a distant second behind President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after an election poll two weeks ago.
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