China and Russia Inch Toward Tougher Line on Iran

Since 07-18-06

By Patrick Goodenough
CNSNews.com International Editor

July 13, 2006

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=/ForeignBureaus/archive/200607/INT20060713a.html

(CNSNews.com) - China and Russia have for the first time agreed to back a legally binding U.N. Security Council resolution compelling Iran to suspend its nuclear activities, but they show no sign of doing the same in the case of North Korea.

The breakthrough came in Paris Wednesday at a meeting of foreign ministers from the council's five permanent members and Germany, a grouping known as the P5+1, after waiting for almost six weeks for Iran to respond to an offer of mostly economic incentives in exchange for freezing its nuclear program.

"The Iranians have given no indication at all that they are ready to engage seriously on the substance of our proposals," said French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, whose country holds the rotating Security Council presidency.

The ministers agreed to seek a resolution in the 15-member council that would make it "mandatory" for Iran to stop enriching uranium. If Iran failed to comply, they would "work for the adoption of measures" under an article of the U.N. Charter that allows for economic and diplomatic sanctions.

The decision was a triumph for the U.S. and its allies, which repeatedly have run into Chinese and Russian opposition to tough measures against Iran. Both have close political and strong economic ties with the Islamic republic.

Faced with a council deadlock, the European Union on June 1 put forward a package offering incentives should Iran comply with the international community's wishes, but also threatening punitive steps should it refuse. The U.S. backed the proposal, and also softened its stance on holding talks with the Iranians, saying it was prepared to take part in meetings between the E.U. and Iran.

Iran did not immediately respond to the overtures, however, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said there would be no response to the incentives package offer until August 22.

Members of the P5+1 had wanted a decision much sooner than that, and definitely before this weekend's Russian-hosted G8 leaders' summit.

After awaiting the outcome of a meeting in Brussels Tuesday between Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and E.U. foreign policy chief Javier Solana, the ministers met in Paris, reviewed the situation, and then agreed on the next step.

In New York, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton said he hoped the Security Council would "move expeditiously" and have a draft resolution to consider by next week.

Iran did not respond immediately to the decision from Paris, although Larijani, in an interview broadcast Wednesday night, implied once again that the stance being adopted by the U.S. and Europe could have an impact on energy security and oil prices.

Earlier Wednesday, Ahmadinejad told a provincial supporters' rally the country would not "give up an iota of its rights" to a nuclear program, which Iran says is designed for purely peaceful, power-generation purposes.

The U.S. and its allies believe the civilian program, which Iran hid from the international community for almost two decades before it was exposed by a regime critic - is being used as a cover to develop the know-how to build atomic bombs.

It's not clear what significance, if any, Ahmadinejad places on August 22 for his response to the incentive offer. The date marks the end of the Persian solar month of Mordad, and also coincides with the Islamic calendar date Rajab 28, the day Jerusalem fell to the Islamic warrior Saladin, in October 1187.

Iranian officials have said "ambiguities" in the offer had to be ironed out before it could respond.

The offer, which has not been officially released, is understood to include support for Iran's entry into the World Trade Organization, access to civilian aircraft technology, and the provision of light-water nuclear reactors to generate electricity.

Punitive steps to be considered should Iran not comply include diplomatic and financial sanctions, although U.S. officials have played down speculation about an embargo on Iranian oil and gas.

Splits over North Korea

While Russia and China have eased their opposition to a legally binding resolution against Iran, they are sticking to their position on North Korea.

Having rejected a Japanese-drafted Security Council resolution condemning Pyongyang for test firing missiles last week, the two are now circulating an alternative text which requests - rather than legally obliges - member states not to collaborate with North Korea's missile or weapons of mass destruction programs.

Given the opposition to its resolution from the two veto-wielding countries, Tokyo this week agreed to delay a vote for several days while a senior Chinese government delegation visits North Korea.

China reportedly is trying to persuade its Stalinist ally not only to return to a moratorium on missile launches, but also to return to stalled six-country talks aimed at resolving the dispute over its nuclear weapons programs.

But U.S. envoy Christopher Hill, who is in Beijing for discussions on the crisis, said Wednesday that after three days, the North Koreans had still not responded positively to the Chinese diplomacy.

The government of Japan, the country most directly threatened by North Korea's missiles, wants the council to vote on its resolution before the G8 summit.

Even if North Korea agreed to return to the six-party talks, chief cabinet secretary Shinzo Abe said in Tokyo Wednesday, that would not in itself be enough to avert a vote.

Earlier, Shinzo caused a stir by suggesting that if Japan had no other option to prevent a missile attack, it would be within its constitutional rights to launch a preemptive strike against the missile launch base.

The South Korean government, which pursues a policy of engagement with and aid to North Korea, said Japan was being provocative, while China's foreign ministry accused Japan of "pouring oil on fire."

Russia joined in the criticism of Japan's stance Wednesday. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Japan "has taken an absolutely uncompromising position" on the council resolution.

"Japanese officials say that all countries should vote as Japan wants, otherwise negative consequences will follow," RIA Novosti quoted Lavrov as saying. "I consider such statements absolutely unacceptable."

The U.S. and its European allies are backing the Japanese resolution.

In an interview with Canadian television, Russian President Vladimir Putin said there were no differences among G8 partners over the goals when it came to North Korea and Iran, only on methods to be used.

The two crises are expected to feature prominently in the meeting, which brings together the leaders of the U.S., Japan, Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and Russia.