Iran's assurances shown as worthless—AJC's David Harris ... Read more

Kirk: Cancel U.S. contribution to Qaddafi Foundations ... Read more

Cardin, Lugar: Energy companies must disclose fuel sources ... Read more

U.S. must do 'whatever it takes' to prevent Iran from going nuclear— Lieberman, Bayh and Kyl

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)-The following statement by Senators Joseph Lieberman (Independent, Connecticut), Evan Bayh (Democrat, Indiana) and Jon Kyl (Republican, Arizona) was issued on Friday.

"The discovery that Iran has been hiding a secret uranium enrichment facility adds fierce new urgency to the collective, comprehensive effort to stop Iran's nuclear breakout.

"For years, Iran has cheated and lied to the world about its nuclear activities and its nuclear ambitions. Just last week, a secret IAEA report was leaked, describing Iran's covert nuclear weapons work. Now it has been caught red-handed once again. After today, the evidence all points to one inescapable conclusion: Iran is determined to acquire nuclear weapons.

"Given Iran's consistent pattern of deceit, concealment, and bad faith, the only way to force Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions is to make absolutely clear to the regime in Tehran that its current course will carry catastrophic consequences. We must leave no doubt that we are prepared to do whatever it takes to stop Iran's nuclear breakout.

"In the absence of immediate compliance by Iran with the IAEA and multiple UN Security Council resolutions, we must act swiftly and decisively to impose crippling new sanctions against Iran. In the Senate, an unprecedented bipartisan majority now supports the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act -- S. 908 -- which has attracted 76 cosponsors, including both some of the most conservative and most liberal members of this chamber. It is now urgent that our coalition move forward on this bill.

"As our former colleagues Senators Chuck Robb and Dan Coats recently urged in an important bipartisan report, President Obama must also reaffirm that -- should diplomacy fail -- all options remain on the table.

"Iran says that it has a right to peaceful civilian energy under the Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). But the rights accorded by the NPT come with responsibilities, which Iran has systematically and repeatedly flouted. By their own actions, Iran's leaders have proven why the world cannot trust them to possess the nuclear fuel cycle.

"As the Senate unanimously affirmed in an amendment we offered to the National Defense Authorization Act this summer, there is now a narrow timetable by which Iran must fully comply with the IAEA and the UN Security Council. Unless it does so and comes completely clean about all its nuclear activities, there must be a presumption of bad faith against Iran -- including in its meeting with the P5+1 on October 1.

"Until Iran proves otherwise, we must assume the worst about its nuclear intentions and activities -- and act accordingly."

Preceding provided by Senator Joseph Lieberman


Conference of Presidents: Start planning new Iran sanctions now

NEW YORK (Press Release)--The important joint declaration by theUnited States, Britain and France regarding the existence of a second nuclear plant in Iran underscores the need for "further and more stringent sanctions" as the leaders said. Germany has also associated itself with the statement.

Alan Solow, Chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman, of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said, "The time is now, not months from now, to determine the most effective and impactful sanctions and implement them. Should the UN Security Council not be able to muster the votes necessary, then Europe, the US and other nations should act outside of the framework of that
body. Further delay will only ensure new revelations of additional facilities and capacities that are part of President Ahmadinejad's drive to acquire nuclear weapons capacities. While the meeting with Iran is looming for next week (October 1st), it is imperative that a tough sanctions package be adopted as quickly as possible. Delaying until the
end of the year will only assure that the Iranian regime will come closer to achieving its objective of a nuclear weapons capacity."

Iran's assurances shown as worthless—AJC's David Harris

NEW YORK (Press Release)- AJC expressed grave concern at revelations that Iran has been operating a second uranium enrichment facility, declaring it to be "further incontrovertible proof that any assurances from Iranian leaders about the nature and scope of their nuclear program are worthless."

"Whether they are denying the Holocaust or trying to fool us over their nuclear ambitions, it's clear that lying is what Iran's leaders do best," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "The discovery of this second facility fits perfectly into the web of deceit which Iran has weaved around its nuclear program. Let’s recall that the regime also tried to conceal the Natanz facility from the outside world. We are compelled to ask: what else are they hiding?"

Harris welcomed the unified stance on Iran adopted by President Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh. "It is imperative that all options - most immediately, tough and resolute sanctions - remain on the table in confronting the Iranian threat," Harris said.

To coincide with the UN General Assembly and the Pittsburgh Summit, AJC has released a new short film highlighting the danger posed by an Iranian regime armed with nuclear weapons. The film can be seen at http://ajc.org/Iran.

Preceding provided by American Jewish Committee

Kirk: Cancel U.S. contribution
to Qaddafi Foundations

WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)—U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today urged President Obama to withdraw his Administration’s request to provide $400,000 to Libya’s Qaddafi Foundation, just weeks after they celebrated the release of a terrorist responsible for the murders of 189 Americans.

Last month, when Scotland freed Abel Baset Megrahi, the only man convicted in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi greeted him with a hero’s welcome.  Qaddafi’s son, Saif, was involved in the negotiation for Megrahi’s release and accompanied the terrorist back to Libya.

Despite the U.S. Administration’s strong condemnation of Megrahi’s release, the State Department notified Congress on September 15, 2009, of its intent to provide $200,000 to Saif Qaddafi’s foundation (Qaddafi Development Foundation) and another $200,000 expected to go to an organization run by Muammar Qaddafi’s daughter, Aisha (Wa'ettasemo) and the UNDP, where she serves as goodwill ambassador for Libya.

“Just weeks after the Qaddafi family celebrated the return of a terrorist responsible for the murders of 189 Americans, the U.S. taxpayer should not be asked to reward them with $400,000,” wrote Kirk, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations, which oversees US. foreign assistance.  “For the sake of the victims’ families who have endured so much pain these last few weeks, I ask you to withdraw your Administration’s request.”

Preceding provided by Congressman Kirk


Cardin, Lugar: Energy companies must disclose fuel sources

WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) – Energy companies would have to publicly disclose what they pay for oil, gas and minerals from U.S. and foreign governments under a bipartisan bill introduced today by U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (Democrat, Maryland), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; and Senator Dick Lugar (Republican, Indiana), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The bill aims to reverse the “resource curse” where countries rich in natural resources and rampant with corruption can hide the financial benefits they gain from energy companies and use the revenue to further finance corruption rather than invest in their people. Senators Charles E. Schumer (Democrat, New York) and Roger Wicker (Republican, Mississippi) are original cosponsors of the bill.

The Energy Security Through Transparency (ESTT) Act:

Requires companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges to disclose in their regular SEC filings their extractive payments to foreign governments for oil, gas and mining;

Expresses the Sense of Congress that the Administration should undertake to become an ‘implementing country’ of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (we are currently a ‘supporting’ country);

Encourages the President to work with members of the G-8, G-20, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation to promote similar disclosure through their exchanges and jurisdictions;

Commits the Department of Interior to disclosing extractive payments received for resources derived from federal lands.

The legislation builds on the U.S. Helsinki Commission’s work to promote transparency in the extractive industries.

“This legislation puts human rights front and center in the global energy discussion,” said Cardin. “The transparency measures in this bill will empower people to fight corruption and hold their governments accountable. Greater transparency will lead to greater stability in countries that benefit from their natural resources and will lessen volatility in the global energy market.”

“History shows that oil, gas reserves and minerals frequently can be a bane, not a blessing, for poor countries, leading to corruption, wasteful spending, military adventurism, and instability. Too often, oil money intended for a nation's poor lines the pockets of the rich, or is squandered on showcase projects instead of productive investments,” Lugar said. “When financial markets see stable economic growth and political organization in resource rich countries, supplies are more reliable and risk premiums factored into process at the gas pump are diminished. Information is critical to maintaining healthy economies and healthy political systems.”

“Good governance and transparency are important cornerstones of political stability,” Wicker said. “Our support for these principles through this legislation strengthens international efforts to combat the resource curse, while at the same time benefitting our national and economic security by promoting greater energy stability.”

"Energy is one of most valuable commodities and boosting the transparency of deals between energy companies and foreign countries will help make sure crooked, unstable governments don’t horde windfalls while their citizens suffer from the effects of poverty and corruption,” said Schumer. “The best way to help the people of these nations is to start right here at home, requiring companies registered with the SEC to disclose these energy deals and ensuring that Americans don't paying higher energy prices to finance corruption in other countries.”

Preceding provided by Senator Cardin