Curaçao examines possible sanctions against Iran

March 13, 2012 6:56 AM

WILLEMSTAD - The Curaçao government is not unfavorable towards the sanctions against Iran

Department Foreign Relations is examining possible measures, such as freezing assets of Iranian companies with offshore banks, Minister-President Gerrit Schotte said this morning in the Gobièrnu i Polítika program at Radio New Song 95.6. According to Schotte, there was much discussion in the Curaçao Council of Ministers on the sanctions.Putting the country under pressures without sure evidence, goes against the grain with the Premier. “I hope this doesn’t become a fiasco as with Iraq.” According to the Premier, the European sanction policy against Iran could serve as a model of conscience with wars. If the European Union and the Security Council form a sanction bloc against oil producing countries there are bound to be consequences, said the Premier. He hopes the fuel prices will not rise in the next two years. “And especially not if it appears after three years that the country did not have a nuclear program”, said the Premier.

The National Council of Ministers will wait until March 30th to decide if they will join the Kingdom with the intended sanctions of the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) against Iran. Discussions on who had spoken out of turn on this subject are pointless, said minister plenipotentiary of Curaçao, Sheldry Osepa. During a press conference last Monday, Minister-President Gerrit Schotte (MFK) said he doubts whether Curaçao is to follow the sanction policy against Iran. The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Uri Rosenthal, requested Curaçao to join the European sanction policy against Iran. The EU and the Security Council of the UN has imposed sanctions on the oil-producing company because of the nuclear program.
 
The letter emphasizes the public interest of the applicable sanctions within the Kingdom against Iran. According to Schotte, Curaçao would become the victim in case of a ban on the import of crude oil and petroleum products from that country. He stated that the drastic rise of the gasoline price with 13 cents is actually a result of the sanction policy.
 
While Schotte expressed his doubts on the sanctions last Monday, minister plenipotentiary in The Hague, Sheldry Osepa, had had contact with Rosenthal several days later. Osepa: “I informed Rosenthal orally that Curaçao is not opposed to the intended measure.”
 
According to Osepa, it was necessary to create some peace at that moment. He repudiates reports that he had spoken out of turn. “I’m constantly in contact with everyone. The meeting of the National Council of Ministers on this matter is scheduled for March 30th. Only then will Curaçao announce their definite viewpoint”, said Osepa.

(Amigoe)

10 March 2012