UN draft condemns N Korea for South ship sinking
Saturday, 10 July 2010
UNITED NATIONS, July 9 (AP): Diplomats say the UN Security Council is set to approve a statement condemning a deadly torpedo attack on a South Korean warship that killed 46 sailors, but the declaration stops short of directly blaming North Korea.
The council scheduled a meeting Friday morning where diplomats said the statement will be read.
After more than a month of closed-door discussions, the United States announced Thursday that the five permanent council members - the US, Russia, China, Britain and France - as well as South Korea and Japan had reached agreement on the text.
US Ambassador Susan Rice introduced the draft statement to the 15-member council at a closed meeting late Thursday.
Presidential statements must be approved by the full council and diplomats said there was no opposition, speaking on condition of anonymity because the meeting was closed.
While presidential statements don't have the clout of resolutions, they do become part of the Security Council's record.
A South Korean-led international investigation that included experts from five other nations concluded that a North Korean torpedo sank the 1,200-ton Cheonan on March 26.
The council scheduled a meeting Friday morning where diplomats said the statement will be read.
After more than a month of closed-door discussions, the United States announced Thursday that the five permanent council members - the US, Russia, China, Britain and France - as well as South Korea and Japan had reached agreement on the text.
US Ambassador Susan Rice introduced the draft statement to the 15-member council at a closed meeting late Thursday.
Presidential statements must be approved by the full council and diplomats said there was no opposition, speaking on condition of anonymity because the meeting was closed.
While presidential statements don't have the clout of resolutions, they do become part of the Security Council's record.
A South Korean-led international investigation that included experts from five other nations concluded that a North Korean torpedo sank the 1,200-ton Cheonan on March 26.