Russian Foreign Minister Criticizes European-Drafted UN Resolution on Iran
26 October 2006
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says a European-drafted U.N. resolution that would impose sanctions on Iran does not match the common position of the world's six major powers.
Russian news agency Interfax quotes Lavrov as saying the objective of the six powers should be to prevent Iran gaining access to sensitive nuclear technologies, until U.N. inspectors clarify all the issues of interest to them.
Lavrov says it is also important for the group to maintain contact with Iran. He says the draft resolution to be discussed Thursday at the United Nations, fails to meet the goals agreed by the six nations.
The resolution was drafted this week by three members of the group: Britain, France and Germany. The other three powers include the United States, Russia and China.
The document calls for banning the transfer of missile and nuclear technology to Iran, and cutting off financing for such projects. U.S. diplomats Wednesday criticized the proposals as not being tough enough.
French U.N. Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere says the draft resolution is firm, but also reversible, as it would lift the sanctions once Tehran suspends enrichment work.
Meanwhile, the presidents of China and France are urging Iran to respect a previous U.N. Security Council resolution demanding the suspension of Iranian nuclear enrichment activities.
Chinese President Hu Jintao and his French counterpart Jacques Chirac discussed the Iranian nuclear dispute during a meeting Thursday, in Beijing. During the talks, they agreed to keep cooperating closely to resolve the issue.
U.N. resolution 1696, adopted three months ago, threatened Iran with possible sanctions if it did not suspend enrichment by the end of August. Iran has continued its nuclear program in defiance of the resolution.
Western nations suspect Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons - a charge Tehran denies.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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