WORLD / Middle East
UN close to Iran nuclear draft
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-07-26 08:58
Key members of the U.N. Security Council were close to agreement on a
draft resolution demanding Iran suspend all nuclear enrichment and
reprocessing work and threatening to consider sanctions if it refuses,
diplomats said on Tuesday.
Vitaly Churkin (C), Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations, speaks
with the media at UN headquarters in New York. Envoys of six major powers
reported progress on a UN draft resolution demanding Iran halt uranium
enrichment, but said they needed further instructions from their
capitals.[AFP]
Negotiations on the resolution have dragged on for 10 days among Germany
and the council members with veto power - the United States, Britain,
France, Russia and China.
"We made a lot of progress today. This was probably the most productive
session. This bring us very close," U.S. Ambassador John Bolton told
reporters.
France's U.N. Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere agreed. "The six should
soon be able to present a text to the (Security) Council," perhaps as
early as Wednesday, he said.
Britain's deputy ambassador, Karen Pierce was more cautious, saying said
the text was not yet complete.
"We are going to look at it overnight, reflect on the points in it, talk
to our capitals and come back and talk about it tomorrow (Wednesday),"
Pierce said.
Foreign ministers from the negotiators, except for China, are now in Rome
trying to work out how to end the violence in Lebanon and Pierce said
they might look at the Iran text on the margins of the conference.
Tehran has vigorously objected to the resolution and says its nuclear
activities are to produce electrical power only.
The draft is expected to demand Iran suspend all uranium
enrichment-related and plutonium reprocessing activities as well as the
construction of a heavy-water reactor.
It says that if Iran does not comply with the resolution the council
would consider measures under Article 41 of Chapter 7 of the U.N.
Charter, which relates to economic and diplomatic sanctions. But it
excludes military force.
The date set for compliance is still open but is expected to be at the
end of August.
One compromise is that the latest draft is under Chapter 7 of the U.N.
Charter, Article 40, which says the council, before taking any action,
can call on the those concerned to "comply with such provisional measures
as it deems necessary."
Originally, the Western drafters, who fear Iran's nuclear activity is a
cover for bomb making, also wanted a reference to a provision in Chapter
7 that refers to threats to international peace and security.
But Bolton said the draft made clear that "Iran is bound mandatorily to
suspend its uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities."
At a July 12 meeting in Paris, all six countries agreed Iran had given no
indication it would engage seriously on a commercial and technological
incentive package offered by major powers in early June, and referred the
issue to the council.
Iran is building a heavy-water nuclear reactor at Arak, 120 miles (190
km) southwest of Tehran. Western nations are concerned the plant's
plutonium by-product could be used to produce nuclear warheads.
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Today's Top News
� Possible price hikes stoke inflation fears
� Kaemi makes landfall; 500,000 moved
� What is Dalai Lama's 'Middle Way'
� Israel bomb kills 4 UN observers
� Earthquake in SW China kills 19
Top World News
� Bush: New plan to help end Iraq violence
� U.N.: 250,000 child soldiers in armed conflicts
� UN Council has 1st straw poll on Annan successor
� Bombs kill more than 60 in Baghdad, Kirkuk
� Group decries Bush's law interpretations
Alibaba is the largest B2B marketplace in the world. Source model ship,
wooden puzzle, one-piece toilet, RC hovercraft, photo album, prom dress,
pocket bike, Vaginal Speculum, Samurai Sword, String Panty and PVC Pipe.
Learn Chinese online, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment