Posted on 05/16/2008 5:06:10 AM PDT by Renfield
The Austrian oil and gas company OMV signed a huge energydeal with Iran to develop its energy resources in 2007. This was so despite many other European companies who have chosen of their own volition (encouraged by America) to forego deals with Iran.
American companies do not do business with Iran's energy sector as a consequence of sanctions being imposed by Congress years ago in response to Iranian violations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Pact, and a nuclear program that most analysts perceive as being geared towards developing a nuclear arsenal. This, combined with repeated Iranian threats to destroy Israel, has dissuaded many companies from engaging the Iranians.
The Austrians have resisted such entreaties and , in a shareholder's meeting this week, OMV's Chief Executive Officer stated that the company has "no moral obligation to Israel".
This is somewhat offensive on its face when one realizes that Austrians were prime movers behind World War Two and the Holocaust (Hitler was an Austrian by birth, as were many leading members of the SS). The CEO also said something quite revealing. According to this report, he stated that time is an ally and the company is waiting for "political changes in the USA" to bolster their dealings with Iran.
Now what sort of changes might he be awaiting?
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