UNITED NATIONS - The world's most powerful nations failed to agree on new
sanctions against Iran amid reports that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
wants to put Tehran's case for a nuclear program before the UN Security Council.
Syrian president Bashar Assad, right, meets with Iranian
defense minister Mostafa Najjar in Damascus on Sunday March 11, 2007.
[AP]
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The surprise announcement about
Ahmadinejad's intention to fly to New York came in the throes of intense debate
Sunday among the five veto-wielding permanent council members - the US, Russia,
China, Britain and France - and Germany on additional measures to pressure Iran
to suspend uranium enrichment.
South Africa's UN Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, whose country holds the
rotating Security Council presidency, said Ahmadinejad had not made a formal
request to address the UN's most powerful body, but if he did, "it would be very
difficult to deny him that opportunity."
Kumalo said he would "be open to consulting" with the other council members
on scheduling Ahmadinejad's appearance. "I would be surprised if they said they
don't want to hear him," he told The Associated Press.
Whether an appearance before the Security Council by Ahmadinejad would affect
the contents or vote on a new UN resolution remains to be seen.
Iranian TV on Sunday quoted government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham as
saying Ahmadinejad "intends to attend a UN Security Council meeting to be held
on Iran's nuclear case in order to defend the rights of the Iranian nation in
exploiting peaceful nuclear energy."
The announcement came hours before ambassadors of the six key nations met for
the fifth time in a week to discuss what additional sanctions to include in a
new resolution.
In December, the Security Council imposed limited sanctions against Iran for
its refusal to freeze uranium enrichment. It ordered all countries to stop
supplying Iran with materials and technology that could contribute to its
nuclear and missile programs, and to freeze assets of 10 key Iranian companies
and 12 individuals related to those programs.
The council warned it would adopt further nonmilitary sanctions if Iran
refused to comply.
Iran not only refused to suspend its enrichment program but expanded it. So
the six key nations that have been trying to rein in Iran's nuclear program
started discussing possible new sanctions including a travel ban, an arms
embargo, trade restrictions, and an expanded list of people and companies
subject to an asset freeze.
After Sunday's 1 1/2-hour meeting at Britain's UN Mission, however, it was
clear that the key players remain divided. The US and Europe want tougher
sanctions than Russia and China, which both have strong business ties with Iran,
are prepared to accept.
China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya said the basic positions of the six
countries remained the same "so I feel now it's up to our capitals to have one
more round of exercises before we can meet again."
He said it would take "at least a couple of days" before the permanent
members come up with a draft resolution to circulate to the 10 nonpermanent
council members. The full council would then need time to consider the draft
before it was put to a vote.
Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said negotiations were "moving slowly,
back and forth." Asked whether the six were any closer to agreement, he said,
"Maybe a little bit, a little bit - but very, very gradual."
Acting US ambassador Alejandro Wolff said Sunday's session "was a difficult
one."
"As always, when you get down to the last bits of agreement, the discussions
harden a bit," he said. "We had a session today that showed that there were
still some firm views on all sides... I am hopeful still that we can overcome
these remaining differences."
France's UN Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said the negotiations "are
moving in the right direction."
"We are not yet there but ... I expect, I hope that we will be able to have
this resolution adopted next week," he said.
China has resisted proposed cutbacks on loan guarantees for companies doing
business in Iran, a measure strongly supported by the United States.
There has been less friction over a proposal to ban Iran from exporting arms,
although China wants the banned weapons to be specifically defined.
As for Ahmadinejad, the Security Council would have to consider any request
for him to speak, but approval seems likely.
"I think that any member can have the right to come to the council if they
wish," said China's Wang who then added with a laugh: "It will be fun if he
comes - especially in connection with the adoption of this resolution!"
Wolff, the US ambassador, said he had only seen news reports and would wait
for a formal request to the council.
"I've not seen any request for a visa," he said. "I've not seen anything
concrete, so I don't know what to make of it."