Ahmadinejad fires another salvo at UN move
Ahmadinejad: New confrontation. Picture: EPA
Saturday, March 17, 2007
THE United Nations was headed for a dramatic confrontation over broadening sanctions against Iran as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asked to attend a Security Council vote next week.
Six major world powers last Thursday agreed on a package of broader UN sanctions against Iran as Tehran stood firm in its refusal to suspend its controversial nuclear work.
UN ambassadors from the six countries announced a deal on a new sanctions resolution that was submitted to the Security Council's 10 non-permanent members ahead of a vote expected next week.
The agreement virtually ensures that measures to broaden existing sanctions and impose some new ones will be approved by the 15-member Council when the draft is put to a vote, likely next week.
News of the agreement set the stage for a dramatic confrontation with Ahmadinejad, who formally asked to attend the Council meeting when the sanctions come up for a vote.
"He (Ahmadinejad) wants to come when the resolution is being adopted," said South African Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, who chairs the Council this month.
In Washington, the US said yesterday it would expedite Ahmadinejad's request for the visa. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack urged Ahmadinejad to use the appearance to do an about face and announce the suspension of his country's uranium enrichment programme as demanded under previous UN resolutions.
McCormack said Iran had applied via the US embassy in Switzerland for visas for Ahmadinejad and his delegation to attend the UN session. "We are going to do everything that we can in accordance with our (UN) host country responsibilities to expedite the issuing of any such visas," he said.
The new draft, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, would bar Iran from exporting arms and would urge all states to restrict the sale or transfer "of any battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large-calibre artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles" and other arms.
It calls for a voluntary travel ban on additional officials and companies involved in Iran's "proliferation sensitive" nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. It also urges voluntary restrictions on "new commitments for grants, financial assistance and concessional loans to Iran" as well as extending an assets freeze to additional entities and individuals linked to Iran's nuclear and missile programmes.
The text would give Iran 60 days to comply with repeated UN demands or face "further appropriate measures" (economic sanctions but no military action) under Article 41 of the UN Charter.AFP
Six major world powers last Thursday agreed on a package of broader UN sanctions against Iran as Tehran stood firm in its refusal to suspend its controversial nuclear work.
UN ambassadors from the six countries announced a deal on a new sanctions resolution that was submitted to the Security Council's 10 non-permanent members ahead of a vote expected next week.
The agreement virtually ensures that measures to broaden existing sanctions and impose some new ones will be approved by the 15-member Council when the draft is put to a vote, likely next week.
News of the agreement set the stage for a dramatic confrontation with Ahmadinejad, who formally asked to attend the Council meeting when the sanctions come up for a vote.
"He (Ahmadinejad) wants to come when the resolution is being adopted," said South African Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, who chairs the Council this month.
In Washington, the US said yesterday it would expedite Ahmadinejad's request for the visa. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack urged Ahmadinejad to use the appearance to do an about face and announce the suspension of his country's uranium enrichment programme as demanded under previous UN resolutions.
McCormack said Iran had applied via the US embassy in Switzerland for visas for Ahmadinejad and his delegation to attend the UN session. "We are going to do everything that we can in accordance with our (UN) host country responsibilities to expedite the issuing of any such visas," he said.
The new draft, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, would bar Iran from exporting arms and would urge all states to restrict the sale or transfer "of any battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large-calibre artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles" and other arms.
It calls for a voluntary travel ban on additional officials and companies involved in Iran's "proliferation sensitive" nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. It also urges voluntary restrictions on "new commitments for grants, financial assistance and concessional loans to Iran" as well as extending an assets freeze to additional entities and individuals linked to Iran's nuclear and missile programmes.
The text would give Iran 60 days to comply with repeated UN demands or face "further appropriate measures" (economic sanctions but no military action) under Article 41 of the UN Charter.AFP
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