New York Times: Russia on Friday submitted a broad revision of a draft resolution designed to curb Irans nuclear program, and the United States promised counterproposals, casting talks on the subject into increasing doubt and delay.
The New York Times
By WARREN HOGE
Published: November 4, 2006
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 3 Russia on Friday submitted a broad revision of a draft resolution designed to curb Irans nuclear program, and the United States promised counterproposals, casting talks on the subject into increasing doubt and delay.
An hourlong meeting of ambassadors from the five permanent members of the Security Council and Germany ended with no discussion of specifics, and a decision to circulate the amended drafts among the six governments, said John R. Bolton, the American ambassador.
In light of the extent of the Russian changes, we decided that well refer all these back to capitals and meet again at some later date, and thats basically all we decided, he said.
The United States has pressed for speedy action, but Russian and Chinese reluctance to impose broad sanctions on Tehran is expected to carry the talks into the coming weeks.
The working draft, drawn up two weeks ago by Britain, France and Germany, responds to an earlier Council resolution demanding that Iran suspend its uranium enrichment activities by Aug. 31, a deadline that Tehran ignored.
The resolution would prohibit any technical or financial assistance that could benefit Irans nuclear and ballistic missile programs, freeze the assets of any Iranians involved in nuclear activities and bar them from international travel.
Vitaly I. Churkin, the Russian ambassador, said his government objected to the proposed sanctions and wanted the measure to be redrawn to encourage the Iranians to return to talks on its nuclear program.
He said Russia, which is helping to build Irans first nuclear power plant, at Bushehr, agreed that the resolution ought to preclude the possibility that countries assisting Tehran end up providing the means to produce weapons.
Steven Lee Myers contributed reporting from Moscow.
