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)