Wednesday May 14 the OMV shareholders’ meeting will be taking place in Vienna. During this meeting the topic of a planned 22 billion Euro deal with Iran will be discussed.

We protest the deal between Iran and Austrian conglomerate OMV partly owned by the Austrian government which is its largest shareholder. Under this agreement, OMV would develop Iranian gas and oil fields along the Persian Gulf. Its investments in Iran’s energy sector would significantly increase the finances Tehran has available for its nuclear program.

Dealing with a regime that threatens to wipe Israel off the map, that denies the Holocaust and that works to develop a nuclear bomb is completely unacceptable. We therefore call on OMV to cancel its deal with Iran. Moreover, we demand that the Austrian government instead impose effective and comprehensive sanctions to isolate the Iranian regime politically and economically. The Iranian nuclear bomb has to be prevented by any means necessary.

Reinold Simon
President, B'nai B'rith Europe

May 12, 2008

B’nai B’rith Europe is part of the worldwide Jewish organisation B’nai B’rith International. B’nai B’rith was established in New York in 1843 and is represented in Europe for over 130 years. Its members are organised in more than 150 associations or Lodges in 29 European countries.