Source: alalam.ir, 04-03-2008
VIENNA-A push by Western powers for a resolution against Iran at a UN atomic watchdog meeting has been dropped amid objections from Russia, China and developing countries, diplomats said Tuesday.
Just a day after the UN Security Council slapped a third set of sanctions on Iran, European countries drafted a resolution which they wanted to put to the International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors here.
But the text was finally ditched after its opponents -- notably the Russians, the Chinese and the so-called Non-Aligned Movement -- argued it was superfluous following the UN Security Council decision.
"It wasn't only the Russians and the Chinese. More than that, the decision in New York speaks for itself," one Western diplomat said.
Furthermore, it could prove counter-productive and lead Iran to reduce cooperation with the IAEA, other diplomats said.
Iran's IAEA ambassador repeated on Tuesday that Tehran would have nothing more to do with the inquiry and would never suspend its peaceful nuclear program, but would keep its declared enrichment sites under IAEA monitoring despite the new sanctions.
Ali Asghar Soltanieh noted ElBaradei had certified Iran had resolved all outstanding questions about its nuclear activity and said the alleged arms studies did not count because they were mere "fabrications" of Iran's chief foe, the United States.
"The alleged studies were thoroughly reviewed in two rounds of talks and we gave our final assessment. The issue is over," he told reporters.
Cuban Ambassador Norma Goicochea Estenoz told reporters that the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), a bloc of nations of which she is chair, was opposed to such a resolution.
"We don't think that there is any need for a draft resolution. In our opinion, it would damage the environment of cooperation and confidence-building between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the agency," she said.
For the NAM, it was more important "to give more support to the IAEA's Director General (Mohammed ElBaradei) and to Iran in the implementation of the work plan," the ambassador said.
"We are really committed to that endeavor and we do believe that this period of cooperation and confidence building ... has to prevail."
On Monday, the UN Security Council approved a third round of sanctions against Iran during its debate on Iran's nuclear activities which have been confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency as peaceful.