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Momodou
Denmark
11717 Posts |
 Posted - 09 Feb 2011 : 21:51:36
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Arms seized in Nigeria were for Gambia: Iran ambassador
 ABUJA (AFP) – Tehran's ambassador to Nigeria said Tuesday that arms seized in October at a port in Lagos were destined for the Gambia and followed an agreement between Iran and the small West African nation.
The controversial arms shipment sent from Iran has drawn international attention because it could constitute a violation of sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear programme.
An alleged Iranian Revolutionary Guard member, also identified in court documents as a businessman, has been charged in Nigeria over the shipment.
Iran said previously that the arms were bound for a West African country and were sent by a private company. Gambia severed ties with Iran after earlier allegations that it was the intended recipient, which it has denied.
Iran's ambassador in Abuja, Hussein Abdullahi, told journalists that he met with Nigerian government officials after the seizure.
"I informed them formally that this consignment was not for Nigeria. The destination is Gambia," he said
"It is based on the agreement signed between Iran and Gambia three years back and this is not the first part of that consignment. This is the third part, and I asked them to please not to allow people who are not happy with our friendly relations to gain advantage of this incident."
Asked why the cache, which included rockets and grenades, was disguised as building material, he said he did not know since a private company handled the shipment.
As for why Gambia severed ties with Iran, Abdullahi said the country was upset that Tehran had disclosed a confidential agreement to Nigeria.
Iran is under four sets of UN sanctions over its disputed nuclear programme, including a ban on arms sales. Nigeria has reported the seizure to the UN Security Council.
Iran says arms seized in Nigeria were for Gambia
Arms were third such shipment sent to Gambia - Iran
* Iranian suspect pleaded not guilty to charges last week
By Camillus Eboh
ABUJA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Crates of weapons seized in Nigeria last year had been sent from Iran and were destined for Gambia as part of a three-year-old agreement between the two countries, the Iranian ambassador to Nigeria said.
Nigeria reported Iran to the U.N. Security Council in November for an apparent breach of U.N. sanctions. Tehran's ambassador said he had told Nigerian authorities the shipment was part of legitimate trade with Gambia.
The weapons included assorted calibres of mortars and 107mm rockets -- designed to attack static targets and used by armies to support infantry units -- and shells for a 23mm anti-aircraft gun, hidden in containers marked building materials.
"Security agencies in your country assessed these containers. I informed them formally that this consignment was not meant for Nigeria, it was meant for another country which you know is the Gambia," Hussein Abdullahi told reporters in Nigeria's capital Abuja late on Tuesday.
"It is based on the agreement signed between Iran and the Gambia three years back and this is not the first part of that consignment. This is the third part and I asked them to please not allow people who are not happy with our friendly relations to gain advantage of this incident," Abdullahi said.
Iranian Azim Adhajani and Nigerian businessman Ali Usman Abbas Jega pleaded not guilty at a Lagos court last week to charges of importing prohibited firearms. [ID:nLDE7101UB]
Prosecution documents identify Adhajani as a Tehran-based businessman and member of the Revolutionary Guard.
Diplomatic sources told Reuters shortly after the goods were seized that two members of the al-Quds force -- an elite unit of the Revolutionary Guard which specialises in foreign operations for Iran -- were involved. The second Iranian had diplomatic immunity and has since left the country.
Iran has said the cargo belonged to a private firm and was for sale "legitimately". It has described the seizure as a misunderstanding.
A 2007 U.N. Security Council resolution states Iran must not "supply, sell or transfer directly or indirectly from its territory or by its nationals ... any arms or related material", under sanctions imposed over its disputed nuclear programme.
As a non-permanent member of the Security Council, Nigeria was obliged to report the apparent breach to the U.N. sanctions committee. Experts from the world body visited Nigeria last month to assess whether the shipment had contravened the ban but its findings have not yet been made public. [ID:nLDE70G28V] (Writing by Joe Brock; editing by Nick Tattersall)
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
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mansasulu
997 Posts |
Posted - 09 Feb 2011 : 22:55:34
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I think we should all take this with a grain of salt. Seriously...what should we expect to hear from the Iranians? Since Gambia had severed ties with them, everything they are saying now appears to be salvaging whatever diplomatic ties they have left. This thing leaves more questions unanswered namely... Why would a private company be shipping arms on behalf of the Iranian government...were they actively trying to skirt UN sanctions ? etc.
Where the weapons were destined for is totally irrevant. If Iran meant well for Gambia and Senegal whom they claim to be friends with, they shouln not have brought these weapons to the region in the first place. |
"...Verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest..." Sura Al-Rad (Chapter 13, Verse 28)
...Gambian by birth, Muslim by the grace of Allah... |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 10 Feb 2011 : 00:28:44
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You are a wise man Mansa. Well reasoned.quote:
Originally posted by mansasulu
I think we should all take this with a grain of salt. Seriously...what should we expect to hear from the Iranians? Since Gambia had severed ties with them, everything they are saying now appears to be salvaging whatever diplomatic ties they have left. This thing leaves more questions unanswered namely... Why would a private company be shipping arms on behalf of the Iranian government...were they actively trying to skirt UN sanctions ? etc.
Where the weapons were destined for is totally irrevant. If Iran meant well for Gambia and Senegal whom they claim to be friends with, they shouln not have brought these weapons to the region in the first place.
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
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Kitabul Arerr
Gambia
645 Posts |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 11 Feb 2011 : 00:12:57
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| If you believe this document is real and original, then you are as good as nuts. An Iran bill of lading without a single letter of persian in its content and/or stamps? When was English the official language of Iran? This is a document made in Nigeria, a '419' to those who are familiar with the lingo. Damn, i can make a killing selling my wife's 'diamonds' in this bantaba! I thought this was meant for donkeys like Pa Nderry Mbai? I guess he is in good company. |
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LEMON TIME
Afghanistan
1295 Posts |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 11 Feb 2011 : 01:35:50
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| Yahya Jammeh has indeed failed Gambian. We are not in dispute of that fact but if you believe that the Freedom 'Newspaper' document is real, then expect a shipment container of beautiful and juicy mangoes from the Gambia due to be ripe next month from my good self. The bill of lading will be sent to your Afghanistan address in full Dari, without a letter of the English Language. I am not so greedy, all i ask for US $100. Let me know if you are interested. Jeez, i never knew that anything that appears to portray Jammeh in a negative light is the perfect truth. I will try to be a believer next time Lemon. |
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Kitabul Arerr
Gambia
645 Posts |
Posted - 11 Feb 2011 : 18:31:55
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So the Arms consignment, seized in Nigeria, are the figment of the imagination, shaka?
The last time I checked, there weren't juicy mangoes hidden in those containers, but
real hardware, guns and ammunition. One would need Refrigerated Containers to transport
mangoes, if Iran has any............................................................lol! |
The New Gambia - Stronger Together! |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2011 : 09:44:45
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Who said there are no mangoes in those container? Stop listening to the Nyaks and their newspapers. That is not grenades in the pictures, that is mangoes. You must be bloody blind. Seriously though, if i were to capture this whole Nigeria arms catch saga in one sentence then it will be that; THERE IS SO MUCH TALES, LIES MISINFORMATION AND HALF TRUTHS ABOUT THIS ARMS SAGA THAT THERE WILL NEVER BE ANY TRUTH. The final destination of those arms and what they are meant for will remain a mystery for the foreseeable future. All the players are only interested in damage limitations with gruesome PR campaigns against each other. Don't listen to their PR stunts or atleast excercise due diligence and caution.quote:
Originally posted by Kitabul Arerr
So the Arms consignment, seized in Nigeria, are the figment of the imagination, shaka?
The last time I checked, there weren't juicy mangoes hidden in those containers, but
real hardware, guns and ammunition. One would need Refrigerated Containers to transport
mangoes, if Iran has any............................................................lol!
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mansasulu
997 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2011 : 15:07:15
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Amen to that my brother. The real parties to this saga are not talking and even if they are they are telling us what they want us to run with. We probably wont know the whole picture behind the arms, UN investigations or not. As far I care the Nyaks can keep them...at least they wont find their way to the region they claimed was the final destination.
Another question this raises, what does Iran benefit by admitting that they have already delivered two consignments to the Gambia? It appears they will be fully admitting to the fact that they have systematically and wilfully flounted UN sactions in the past. Today, Iran is more concerned with its relations with individual countries than with the UN...so I am not surprised they said that, but I don't believe it. Nothing more than diplomatic posturing and grandstanding if you ask me... |
"...Verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest..." Sura Al-Rad (Chapter 13, Verse 28)
...Gambian by birth, Muslim by the grace of Allah... |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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