The Walrus
12-29-2003, 06:44 AM
U.S., Iran Hold Direct Talks on Quake Relief
Sat December 27, 2003 06:47 PM ET
By Mark Felsenthal
CRAWFORD, Texas (*******) - U.S. and Iranian officials put aside diplomatic differences to directly discuss humanitarian aid after the earthquake in Iran that claimed tens of thousands of lives, a State Department official said on Saturday.
The United States will send government and civilian emergency workers and 75,000 tons of medical supplies to Iran, the White House said.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement that the United States was working with Iranian authorities, the United Nations and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent to quickly send aid to Iran after the devastating earthquake in the city of Bam, where officials estimate the death toll at 20,000.
The U.S. announcement followed rare direct talks between U.S. and Iranian officials, State Department spokesman Lou Fintor said.
"Given the urgency of the situation we deemed direct contact to be the most appropriate channel," Fintor said.
Washington broke relations with the Islamic republic after students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.
President Bush, in his 2002 State of the Union speech, branded Iran as part of an "axis of evil." But the president offered condolences to the families of the dead and injured on Friday and promised the United States would provide humanitarian aid.
U.S. officials usually communicate with Tehran through intermediaries, often channeling messages through Swiss diplomats.
But Fintor denied there was diplomatic significance to the direct contacts with Iran.
"There is no political angle. There is a humanitarian catastrophe in Iran and our only mission is to alleviate the human suffering associated with yesterday's earthquake," he said.
Iran's quick acceptance of help contrasts with its rejection in 1990 of outside doctors, workers, blood supplies, sniffer dogs and used clothes after an earthquake claimed 36,000 lives and injured 100,000 people.
The United Sates will send medical response teams from Boston, Los Angeles and Virginia and disaster experts from government agencies, McClellan said. The U.S. military will deliver medical supplies from bases in Kuwait, said the spokesman, who was with Bush at his Texas ranch.
Separately, World Vision, a major U.S.-based humanitarian relief organization, announced it plans to airlift supplies to Iran next week.
World Vision said it would send an airlift of $250,000 worth of supplies including plastic sheeting and water purification tablets and equipment early next week
I lift my proverbial hat to the enduring spirit of the Marshall plan and US generosity :hug:
Sat December 27, 2003 06:47 PM ET
By Mark Felsenthal
CRAWFORD, Texas (*******) - U.S. and Iranian officials put aside diplomatic differences to directly discuss humanitarian aid after the earthquake in Iran that claimed tens of thousands of lives, a State Department official said on Saturday.
The United States will send government and civilian emergency workers and 75,000 tons of medical supplies to Iran, the White House said.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement that the United States was working with Iranian authorities, the United Nations and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent to quickly send aid to Iran after the devastating earthquake in the city of Bam, where officials estimate the death toll at 20,000.
The U.S. announcement followed rare direct talks between U.S. and Iranian officials, State Department spokesman Lou Fintor said.
"Given the urgency of the situation we deemed direct contact to be the most appropriate channel," Fintor said.
Washington broke relations with the Islamic republic after students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.
President Bush, in his 2002 State of the Union speech, branded Iran as part of an "axis of evil." But the president offered condolences to the families of the dead and injured on Friday and promised the United States would provide humanitarian aid.
U.S. officials usually communicate with Tehran through intermediaries, often channeling messages through Swiss diplomats.
But Fintor denied there was diplomatic significance to the direct contacts with Iran.
"There is no political angle. There is a humanitarian catastrophe in Iran and our only mission is to alleviate the human suffering associated with yesterday's earthquake," he said.
Iran's quick acceptance of help contrasts with its rejection in 1990 of outside doctors, workers, blood supplies, sniffer dogs and used clothes after an earthquake claimed 36,000 lives and injured 100,000 people.
The United Sates will send medical response teams from Boston, Los Angeles and Virginia and disaster experts from government agencies, McClellan said. The U.S. military will deliver medical supplies from bases in Kuwait, said the spokesman, who was with Bush at his Texas ranch.
Separately, World Vision, a major U.S.-based humanitarian relief organization, announced it plans to airlift supplies to Iran next week.
World Vision said it would send an airlift of $250,000 worth of supplies including plastic sheeting and water purification tablets and equipment early next week
I lift my proverbial hat to the enduring spirit of the Marshall plan and US generosity :hug: