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Increasing Pressure on Iran: Berlin Meeting Produces International Agreement on New Draft Security Council Resolution
The international community is united in its opinion that Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons. At their meeting in Berlin on January 22 the Chinese, German, French, UK, Russian and US foreign ministers, along with the EU High Representative for the CFSP, agreed on a new draft UN Security Council sanctions resolution, while at the same time keeping their hand outstretched for talks. The “E3+3” remain ready to negotiate with the Iranian leadership. Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier thanked his colleagues for “agreeing on the elements of a Security Council resolution following intensive discussions.” Germany, France and the UK, on behalf of the E3+3, will now, in line with usual practice, present a draft resolution to the Security Council. The resolution would, Steinmeier continued, be debated with the other Council members over the coming weeks using the normal procedures. The foreign ministers agreed during their talks that a nuclear armed Iran would have dramatic consequences for the Middle East and further afield. Iran is keeping the international community in the dark about important aspects of its nuclear program. Most importantly, there is reason to doubt that it really serves peaceful purposes. The United Nations Security Council has therefore placed Iran under a legal obligation to suspend its uranium enrichment activities until the international community’s lost confidence in the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program can be restored. The uranium enrichment is problematic because in principle it could also be used to produce weapons-grade uranium. Offer of further talks On behalf of those present, Steinmeier again strongly urged the Tehran leadership to fully comply with the demands of the Security Council and the IAEA, saying that “it is up to Tehran to seek the route of cooperation and conciliation.” The international community had always adopted a dual approach, he continued. On the one hand it had urged Iran to adhere to international law and existing Security Council resolutions, while on the other hand making offers of cooperation, which Iran had unfortunately failed to take up. The international community stands by that dual approach of incentives and expectations regarding Iran. Steinmeier stated that “none of the countries here today wants confrontation.” Iran expected to cooperate with the IAEA The German foreign minister recalled Iran’s promise to clarify the outstanding issues regarding its past nuclear program with the IAEA, saying that “we still expect this process to take place over the coming days and weeks in cooperation with the IAEA in Vienna.” The forthcoming Security Council resolution and the IAEA’s work complement each other. Only if Iran submits all necessary information to the IAEA can lost confidence be restored. January 23, 2008 Link
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