The United Nations Security Council was unanimous in stating
that Iran should stop uranium enrichment. This was a triumph of
compromise.
The statement calls upon Iran to "re-establish full and
sustained suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing
activities, including research and development, in a manner that is
verified by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)."
The council spoke with one clear voice: Iran must suspend
enriching uranium, the material that can be used to make a nuclear
bomb.
This is an area on which the international community cannot and
will not compromise.
The Security Council's unanimous agreement on the statement
sends a strong signal to Iran.
However, compromise was at work in ending the deliberation on
the draft statement after three weeks of deadlock.
The council has been meeting formally on the subject since March
17, when it took up a report referred to it by the IAEA that voiced
concern that "uncertainties related to the scope and nature of
Iran's nuclear program have not been clarified after three years of
intensive IAEA verification."
Another important aspect of the statement is that the council
lends its weight to the IAEA's efforts.
The statement, which had removed a provision saying the Security
Council was responsible for international peace and security, frees
itself from the basis for tougher action against Iran, including
sanctions.
The statement gives the head of the IAEA Mohamed ElBaradei a
mandate to report back on Iran's compliance within 30 days.
This is an important message that the Security Council is
reinforcing the role of the IAEA rather than replacing or taking
over the UN nuclear watchdog.
China is for a statement with an aim to "support all diplomatic
efforts which will lead to a negotiated solution," Wang Guangya,
China's ambassador to the UN, said.
Maintaining the primacy of the international non-proliferation
regime, the international community will keep the door open for
diplomatic maneuver.
When Iran stops its uranium enrichment and is in full and
verified compliance with the IAEA, a diplomatic and negotiated
solution is possible.
The statement asks Iran to take the steps required by the IAEA
Board of Governors, which are essential to building confidence in
the exclusively peaceful purpose of its nuclear program and to
resolve outstanding questions.
The international community is willing to work positively for
such a solution, which is believed to help nuclear
non-proliferation efforts elsewhere.
Foreign ministers of the permanent members of the Security
Council and Germany met in Berlin yesterday to discuss the next
steps.
Diplomacy, rather than imposing sanctions or exerting pressures
on Iran, should be the way forward.
Given the present sensitive regional situation, to which Iran is
also subject, the international community should take a cautious
attitude in dealing with the nuclear issue.
With the statement in hand, the Security Council permanent
members and the European Union need to continue diplomatic efforts
to precipitate the settlement of the issue.
(China Daily March 31, 2006)
