UANI Applauds Turkish Company Karsan For Ending its Business in Iran

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 9, 2011 Contact: press@uani.com Phone: (212) 554-3296 UANI Applauds Turkish Company Karsan For Ending its Business in Iran New York, NY - United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) applauds Turkish automaker Karsan Otomotiv ("Karsan") for ending its business in Iran. UANI further applauds Karsan for pledging to refrain from business in Iran until the Iranian regime fulfills its international obligations related to its illegal nuclear program. On January 5, 2011, UANI called on New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to refuse to award the lucrative contract for the Taxi of Tomorrow campaign to any company that conducts business in Iran. The Taxi of Tomorrow campaign is a competition designed to select New York City's exclusive taxi cab for the upcoming decade. UANI called on two finalists, Japan's Nissan Motor Company and Karsan to end their business in Iran. In response to UANI's call, Karsan and UANI entered into extensive discussions. At the conclusion of these discussions, Karsan demonstrated that it had withdrawn from Iran and committed to foregoing any business in Iran until such time as Iran fulfills its obligations to the international community related to its illegal nuclear program. Responding to Karsan's declaration, UANI President, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, said: We applaud Karsan for its commitment to not do business in Iran until Iran ends its illegal nuclear program. UANI commends Karsan for its leadership and UANI calls on all Turkish companies to follow Karsan's important lead. Doing business in Iran runs directly counter to global security. We wish Karsan the best of luck in the Taxi of Tomorrow competition and we call on Mayor Bloomberg to consider Karsan's strong action in the award of the Taxi of Tomorrow contract. UANI renews its call on Nissan to end its irresponsible business dealings in Iran. Karsan, Turkey's "only multi-branded commercial vehicle producer," builds vehicles for such brands as Peugeot, Citroen, Renault, and Hyundai, and is headquartered in Bursa, Turkey. Click here to send a message to Mayor Bloomberg and Nissan Click here to read the full text of the letter to Mayor Bloomberg # # # United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a program of the American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran, Inc., a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran should concern every American and be unacceptable to the community of nations. Since 1979 the Iranian regime, most recently under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's leadership, has demonstrated increasingly threatening behavior and rhetoric toward the US and the West. Iran continues to defy the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations in their attempts to monitor its nuclear activities. A number of Arab states have warned that Iran's development of nuclear weapons poses a threat to Middle East stability and could provoke a regional nuclear arms race. In short, the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran is a danger to world peace. United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a non-partisan, broad-based coalition that is united in a commitment to prevent Iran from fulfilling its ambition to become a regional super-power possessing nuclear weapons. UANI is an issue-based coalition in which each coalition member will have its own interests as well as the collective goal of advancing an Iran free of nuclear weapons. The Objectives of United Against a Nuclear Iran Inform the public about the nature of the Iranian regime, including its desire and intent to possess nuclear weapons, as well as Iran's role as a state sponsor of global terrorism, and a major violator of human rights at home and abroad; Heighten awareness nationally and internationally about the danger that a nuclear armed Iran poses to the region and the world; Mobilize public support, utilize media outreach, and persuade our elected leaders to voice a robust and united American opposition to a nuclear Iran; Lay the groundwork for effective US policies in coordination with European and other allies; Persuade the regime in Tehran to desist from its quest for nuclear weapons, while striving not to punish the Iranian people, and; Promote efforts that focus on vigorous national and international, social, economic, political and diplomatic measures. UANI is led by an advisory board of outstanding national figures representing all sectors of our country.

Forward email American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran 45 Rockefeller Plaza New York NY 10111