FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2011
Contact: Nathan Carleton, press@uani.com
Phone: (212) 554-3296 UANI Calls on Konecranes to End Its Business in Iran as Part of Ongoing Cranes Campaign New York, NY - On Thursday, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) called on Finnish crane manufacturer Konecranes Oyi to end its business in Iran. Konecranes lists two Iranian companies on its website - Sepahan Lifter and Fassan Co. Additionally, Konecranes subsidiary Morris Material Handling has been reported to sell crane kits to the Iran-based Arian Company. UANI's "Cranes Campaign" highlights the Iranian regime's abhorrent executions by hanging from construction cranes, and the disturbing reality that these cranes are coming from Western and Asian companies. On July 6, Ambassador Wallace wrote a Los Angeles Times op-ed, "Iran's Execution Binge," which detailed the Iranian regime's use of construction cranes for public hangings and called on crane manufacturers to "take the principled stand of renouncing their business ties with the regime until Iran becomes a civilized member of the international community." In response to the Cranes Campaign, crane manufacturers Tadano, Terex, and UNIC have announced an end to their business in Iran. In a letter to Konecranes President and CEO Pekka Lundmark, UANI President, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, wrote: UANI is urging all crane manufacturers, including Konecranes, to end their business operations in Iran until the current regime in Tehran ends this grisly practice and stops threatening the world through its pursuit of an illegal nuclear weapon. *** The extensive business relationships that Konecranes maintains with Iranian entities create the strong possibility that the Iranian regime has used Konecranes equipment for public hangings. Even putting aside the clear misuse of these cranes for public executions, the possibility of the Konecranes name being even remotely associated with the authoritarian regime in Tehran should be reason enough for Konecranes to sever its business in Iran. *** UANI calls on Konecranes to end its business dealings with Iranian entities and guarantee that none of its cranes and other equipment are being used to perpetrate such grave violations of human rights. UANI also calls on Konecranes to follow the good example set by Caterpillar, Komatsu, Tadano, UNIC and Terex and immediately end its presence in Iran. UANI requested a reply from Konecranes by August 26, 2011. Click here to send a message to Konecranes. Click here to read UANI's letter to Konecranes. Click here to learn more about UANI's Cranes Campaign. ### |
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