Saturday, May 06, 2006

Criticism of UN Iran draft mounts

BBC

Russia and China have criticised a UN Security Council draft resolution on Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Russia says the draft needs rewriting with stronger emphasis put on building confidence between Iran and the UN.

China says it is worried that the draft's Western sponsors have based it on UN rules that could open the way for the use of military force against Iran.

The draft demands that Iran stop nuclear enrichment and threatens further measures if it does not do so.

Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful proposes only.

However, Western nations are concerned it is seeking a nuclear weapons capability.

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council are due to meet informally on Saturday to try to thrash out their differences over the draft, drawn up by Britain and France, with US backing.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak was quoted by Russian media as saying that the draft needed "major changes" and that negotiations over the text were "ongoing".

Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin went further saying that Moscow opposes the push for the resolution to be adopted under Chapter Seven of the UN Charter, which could, after further decisions, allow for sanctions or even military action.

China also objects to the use of Chapter Seven, and is concerned by the phrasing of the draft which says that the "proliferation risk" posed by Iran is a threat to international peace and security.

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