Diplomatic talks remain the best way to address the Iranian
nuclear issue, Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya said Saturday after
the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a
resolution with stronger sanctions aimed at pressuring Tehran to
suspend uranium enrichment.
"It is impossible to resolve the issue fundamentally by imposing
sanctions and pressure only," Wang said in his explanatory remarks
to the council. "We wish to call upon all the parties concerned to
adopt a highly responsible and constructive attitude, keep calm,
practice restraint, and refrain from any actions that may lead to
deterioration or escalation of the tension."
"China has all along supported safeguarding the international
nuclear non-proliferation mechanism and opposed the proliferation
of nuclear weapons.
"We do not wish to see new turbulences in the Middle East. We
are in favor of a peaceful solution to Iran's nuclear issue through
political and diplomatic efforts and negotiations," Wang said.
Describing the development of Iran's nuclear issue as
"worrisome," Wang expressed disappointment at Tehran's failure to
respond positively to the requests of the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Security Council.
"Under such circumstances," he said, "we support the Security
Council in taking further and appropriate actions to urge the
Iranian side to suspend enrichment-related activities, in order to
bring the process back to the negotiation track."
Wang stressed that China respects and recognizes Iran's right to
peaceful use of nuclear energy.
"It needs to point out that the purpose of the new Security
Council resolution is not to punish Iran but to urge Iran to return
to the negotiations and reactivate diplomatic efforts."
"The relevant sanction measures should neither harm the Iranian
people nor affect normal economic, trade and financial exchanges
between Iran and other countries," Wang said.
He noted that all the sanctions are reversible. "If Iran
suspends its enrichment related and reprocessing activities, and
complies with the relevant resolutions of the IAEA and the Security
Council, the Security Council shall suspend and even terminate the
sanction measures."
Wang said safeguarding international non-proliferation mechanism
and maintaining international and regional peace and stability
remain the premise and ultimate objective.
"No actions should go astray from this goal," he said.
The Chinese envoy also stressed the necessity to "keep the
process on the track of dialogue and negotiation, and insist on
seeking a peaceful solution through political and diplomatic
efforts."
"It is therefore particularly important to reinforce diplomatic
efforts outside the Security Council," Wang added.
He emphasized that the IAEA remains the main framework for
resolving the Iranian nuclear issue, and its authority and role
should therefore be safeguarded and strengthened.
Wang called on relevant parties to handle, in a balanced manner,
the relations between peaceful use of nuclear energy and
non-proliferation.
"The international community should recognize Iran's right to
peaceful use of nuclear energy. Iran also has the obligation to
accept IAEA's effective supervision, and resolve outstanding issues
through cooperation with IAEA, so as to prove the peaceful nature
of its nuclear program and establish international confidence in
this," he said.
Wang urged all sides to act on the basis of equality and mutual
respect, strengthen dialogue and communication, increase trust,
reduce doubts, and remove each other's concerns, so as to create
necessary atmosphere and conditions for the settlement of the
Iranian nuclear issue.
He also called for "full flexibility" in creatively seeking to
resume negotiations.
"China is ready to work with other parties to continue to play
its due role for a comprehensive and peaceful solution to the
Iran's nuclear issue," Wang said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2007)
