The EU has sent a “message of solidarity” with Britain over Iran`s detention of 15 British naval personnel. That`s nice. But apart from Britain no other European country has put relations with Iran on ice, no economic sanctions have been put in place. Germany has not cancelled the government-backed export guarantees and in the German media the seizure of the 15 British sailors is no top news.
So this “message of solidarity” reminds me a little bit of Schroeder`s promise of “unlimited solidarity” with the US after 9/11 - which did not last very long. Coincidentally, I have re-read an article in IHT, summing up what Schroeder said in a speech before the Bundestag in September 2001:
He stressed that peace in the Middle East was an important component for stability. Germany, he said, would use its contacts with Iran and Syria to attempt to find a basis for cooperation on terrorism.
“Cooperation on terrorism”, what did he mean? What does it mean today? Flourishing trade and export credit guarantees?
And the UN Security Council? Instead of condemning the kidnapping, it merely voiced it`s “deep concern” over the affair. Wow! Imagine the reaction, if Israel had kidnapped 15 Iranian sailors …