By Haider Rizvi
UNITED NATIONS, Jul 29 2006 (IPS)

Russia and China, two permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, have dismissed media speculation that they had reached an informal deal with the United States and its European allies on threats to impose sanctions on Iran.

Russia and China, two permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, have dismissed media speculation that they had reached an informal deal with the United States and its European allies on threats to impose sanctions on Iran.

As talks on a proposed draft resolution on Iran resumed Friday, diplomats from both Russia and China made it clear that not all members of the Security Council were in agreement on how to tackle the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme.

“This resolution is an invitation for dialogue. It’s not a punitive resolution,” Russia’s ambassador to the U.N., Vitaly Churkin, told reporters Friday.

“At this stage, nobody is talking about sanctions,” added Wang Guangya, his counterpart from China.

On Thursday, a Reuters news report suggested that key members of the Security Council had informally agreed to endorse a resolution threatening to consider sanctions against Iran if it refused to suspend nuclear enrichment.

The United States and other Western powers, such as Britain, France and Germany, suspect that Iran’s nuclear programme is aimed at building weapons, but Tehran continues to plead innocence and argue that it has the legal right to develop a peaceful nuclear energy programme.

The draft resolution currently under discussion is likely to be put to a vote next Monday, according to the French ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere, who is also president of the 15-member Security Council for this month.

La Sabliere said he hopes the last version of the text will remain the same, though he told reporters that the draft was sent to the capitals for further consideration by official experts on foreign policy.

The resolution, which is mainly based on earlier discussions among diplomats from the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, strongly supports the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and seeks a report from it by Aug. 31 on whether Iran had established “full and sustained” suspension of uranium enrichment-related activities. Should Iran fail to comply by that date, the Council mentions in the resolution its “intention” to take “appropriate measures under Article 41 of Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter to persuade Iran to comply with” the resolution and IAEA requirements.

The word “intention” may be subject to various interpretations, as the Russians and Chinese have repeatedly opposed the idea of imposing sanctions against Iran, whereas it is evident from statements coming from Washington that the intention could mean not only sanctions but also possible military action as part of the punitive measures against Tehran.

“This resolution will put the ball back into Iran’s court,” John Bolton, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., told reporters Friday. “Our (position) is clear: If Iran continued, the next step will be sanctions.”

Joining Bolton in the tough talk against Iran, Emyr Jones Parry, the British envoy to the U.N., said Iran had failed to participate in serious discussions. “We are not talking about the use of force,” he said. “But Iran has to reply in a few weeks.”

The draft resolution is based on Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, which says the Council, before taking any action, can call on those concerned to “comply with such provisional measures as it deems necessary.”

On Thursday, remarks from the Chinese ambassador suggested that despite close cooperation in bilateral trade, diplomatic tensions are becoming sharper between Washington and Beijing.

The Chinese have made it clear that should the U.S. and its allies bring another resolution calling for sanctions against Iran, it will face strong opposition from Beijing.

“On the nuclear issue, it’s the IAEA which is the watchdog, not the Security Council,” said Guangya in response to a question about the Chinese position on possible sanctions against Iran. “On Iran, not all members share the same view.”

The Chinese ambassador also expressed disappointment with the U.S. role in blocking a Security Council presidential statement condemning Israel for killing four U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. One of the peacekeepers killed by Israeli forces was a Chinese national.

Thursday, the Council had prepared a statement condemning “any deliberate attack against U.N. personnel” and emphasising that “any such attacks are unacceptable.” But such wording was dropped as a result of U.S. opposition.

The U.S. delegation also opposed the call for a joint U.N.-Israeli investigation into the incident.

“During the negotiations, almost all members condemned Israel in a strong voice,” said the Chinese ambassador, adding that there was a lot of “frustration” with the U.S. stance on the Israeli campaign in Lebanon.

This frustration could “affect working relations,” he added. “This organisation cannot discuss issues on a selective basis. We have to cooperate with each other. We have to respect each other.”

Excerpt:

By Haider Rizvi
UNITED NATIONS, Jul 28 2006 (IPS)

Russia and China, two permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, have dismissed media speculation that they had reached an informal deal with the United States and its European allies on threats to impose sanctions on Iran.

As talks on a proposed draft resolution on Iran resumed Friday, diplomats from both Russia and China made it clear that not all members of the Security Council were in agreement on how to tackle the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme.

“This resolution is an invitation for dialogue. It’s not a punitive resolution,” Russia’s ambassador to the U.N., Vitaly Churkin, told reporters Friday.

“At this stage, nobody is talking about sanctions,” added Wang Guangya, his counterpart from China.

On Thursday, a Reuters news report suggested that key members of the Security Council had informally agreed to endorse a resolution threatening to consider sanctions against Iran if it refused to suspend nuclear enrichment.

“I ask you to cool your tempers a little bit,” said Churkin during an encounter with the reporters who had gathered outside the Council chambre, explaining that the draft resolution under discussion was about persuading Iran to respond “constructively” to the negotiating offer to suspend uranium enrichment, not threatening to impose sanctions.

The draft resolution currently under discussion is likely to be put to a vote next Monday, according to the French ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere, who is also president of the 15-member Security Council for this month.

La Sabliere said he hopes the last version of the text will remain the same, though he told reporters that the draft was sent to the capitals for further consideration by official experts on foreign policy.

The resolution, which is mainly based on earlier discussions among diplomats from the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, strongly supports the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and seeks a report from it by Aug. 31 on whether Iran had established “full and sustained” suspension of uranium enrichment-related activities. Should Iran fail to comply by that date, the Council mentions in the resolution its “intention” to take “appropriate measures under Article 41 of Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter to persuade Iran to comply with” the resolution and IAEA requirements.

The word “intention” may be subject to various interpretations, as the Russians and Chinese have repeatedly opposed the idea of imposing sanctions against Iran, whereas it is evident from statements coming from Washington that the intention could mean not only sanctions but also possible military action as part of the punitive measures against Tehran.

“This resolution will put the ball back into Iran’s court,” John Bolton, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., told reporters Friday. “Our (position) is clear: If Iran continued, the next step will be sanctions.”

Joining Bolton in the tough talk against Iran, Emyr Jones Parry, the British envoy to the U.N., said Iran had failed to participate in serious discussions. “We are not talking about the use of force,” he said. “But Iran has to reply in a few weeks.”

The draft resolution is based on Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, which says the Council, before taking any action, can call on those concerned to “comply with such provisional measures as it deems necessary.”

On Thursday, remarks from the Chinese ambassador suggested that despite close cooperation in bilateral trade, diplomatic tensions are becoming sharper between Washington and Beijing.

The Chinese have made it clear that should the U.S. and its allies bring another resolution calling for sanctions against Iran, it will face strong opposition from Beijing.

“On the nuclear issue, it’s the IAEA which is the watchdog, not the Security Council,” said Guangya in response to a question about the Chinese position on possible sanctions against Iran. “On Iran, not all members share the same view.”

The Chinese ambassador also expressed disappointment with the U.S. role in blocking a Security Council presidential statement condemning Israel for killing four U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. One of the peacekeepers killed by Israeli forces was a Chinese national.

Thursday, the Council had prepared a statement condemning “any deliberate attack against U.N. personnel” and emphasising that “any such attacks are unacceptable.” But such wording was dropped as a result of U.S. opposition.

The U.S. delegation also opposed the call for a joint U.N.-Israeli investigation into the incident.

“During the negotiations, almost all members condemned Israel in a strong voice,” said the Chinese ambassador, adding that there was a lot of “frustration” with the U.S. stance on the Israeli campaign in Lebanon.

This frustration could “affect working relations,” he added. “This organisation cannot discuss issues on a selective basis. We have to cooperate with each other. We have to respect each other.”

Excerpt: