Russia, China resist push for tougher Iran sanctions
Saturday, 29 September 2007
UNITED NATIONS, SEPT 28 (AP): Russia and China refuse to discuss possible new sanctions against Iran until the UN nuclear agency reports on Tehran's disclosure of its past suspicious nuclear work at the end of the year, France's foreign minister said.
Bernard Kouchner said Thursday that France, the United States and Britain are trying to persuade the Russians and Chinese not to wait to consider a new UN Security Council resolution that would toughen sanctions against Iran for defying council demands to suspend its uranium enrichment programme.
But he said he did not think the council would be able to take up a new sanctions resolution until after December when the International Atomic Energy Agency's report is due. "I think that it would be very difficult to convince the Russians and the Chinese before," Kouchner told international reporters at a breakfast meeting. "We'll do our best to convince them, but honestly, the position was difficult to tackle." Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov refused to comment on Kouchner's assessment but told reporters Thursday night that Moscow wants to see the IAEA report on Iran's nuclear programme. He said the IAEA's progress with Iran "is obvious" - admittedly not on all things that the IAEA demanded and not on all things which the Security Council supported.
"I think it's a very important moment in the entire process and we want to get this information, professional assessment by the inspectors," Lavrov said.
He insisted that the Security Council track is not being blocked by China, Russia or anyone else.
But he told reporters that any council measures must be proportionate "and commensurate with what Iran is actually doing - and as long as Iran is doing something which satisfies part of the demands of the Security Council, I believe we have to caliber our action in the Security Council and elsewhere."
Lavrov's comments to ITAR-TASS and RIA-Novosti earlier Thursday were stronger.
Bernard Kouchner said Thursday that France, the United States and Britain are trying to persuade the Russians and Chinese not to wait to consider a new UN Security Council resolution that would toughen sanctions against Iran for defying council demands to suspend its uranium enrichment programme.
But he said he did not think the council would be able to take up a new sanctions resolution until after December when the International Atomic Energy Agency's report is due. "I think that it would be very difficult to convince the Russians and the Chinese before," Kouchner told international reporters at a breakfast meeting. "We'll do our best to convince them, but honestly, the position was difficult to tackle." Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov refused to comment on Kouchner's assessment but told reporters Thursday night that Moscow wants to see the IAEA report on Iran's nuclear programme. He said the IAEA's progress with Iran "is obvious" - admittedly not on all things that the IAEA demanded and not on all things which the Security Council supported.
"I think it's a very important moment in the entire process and we want to get this information, professional assessment by the inspectors," Lavrov said.
He insisted that the Security Council track is not being blocked by China, Russia or anyone else.
But he told reporters that any council measures must be proportionate "and commensurate with what Iran is actually doing - and as long as Iran is doing something which satisfies part of the demands of the Security Council, I believe we have to caliber our action in the Security Council and elsewhere."
Lavrov's comments to ITAR-TASS and RIA-Novosti earlier Thursday were stronger.