Chirac, "never favorable to sanctions"

Chamberlain back from the dead. Axis of weasels.

PARIS (AP) — President Jacques Chirac proposed a compromise Monday to kickstart talks between Iran and the international community, suggesting the threat of U.N. sanctions be suspended in exchange for Tehran halting its uranium enrichment program.

"I don't believe in a solution without dialogue," Chirac said in an interview with Europe-1 radio. He suggested the international community suspend the threat of U.N. sanctions and that Iran, in turn, suspend enrichment while the two sides talk.

"I am not pessimistic," Chirac said. "I think that Iran is a great nation, an old culture, an old civilization, and that we can find solutions through dialogue."

Upbeat about the standoff with Iran over its nuclear program, Chirac said in the wide-ranging radio interview that he was pessimistic about the outcomes in Iraq and Sudan's war-ravaged Darfur region.

Chirac spoke before leaving for New York to attend the annual U.N. General Assembly, which opens Tuesday.

Asked about Iran, the French president noted that "Iran for years developed a clandestine nuclear program." However, "I am never favorable to sanctions" and, should they be unavoidable, they should be "moderate and adapted," he said.

In Vienna, Iranian Vice President Reza Aghazadeh said his country was "ready for negotiations and political compromise." However, he coupled that remark with a warning that "any hostile action by the U.N. Security Council would lead to limitation of cooperation" with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
USATODAY.com - French leader proposes Iran compromise

It was not too long ago that Chirac was talking about retaliating with nukes.

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