|
China joins Russia in Iran diplomacy
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-24 07:28
China joined Russia on Thursday in diplomatic efforts to
ease a crisis over Iran's nuclear work before a U.N. atomic watchdog meeting and avert any sanctions.
Moscow and Beijing do not want an International Atomic Energy Agency board
meeting on March 6 to precipitate moves in the U.N. Security Council for
sanctions against Tehran.
The board will hear a crucial IAEA report dealing with suspicions Iran is
secretly seeking atom bombs. The report is likely to influence any future
council action. Russia and China are keen to coax Iran into a compromise before
then.
Russia began negotiations with Iran this week on its idea to enrich uranium
for Tehran, which could placate Western powers by effectively denying the
Islamic Republic the nuclear fuel technology required for building bombs.
But Iran, while sounding more receptive to an enrichment joint venture with
Russia since the IAEA reported it to the Security Council on February 4, insists
on a right to uranium enrichment at home, where it is pursuing a pilot project.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Vice Foreign Minister Lu Guozeng, a Middle
East specialist, would start three days of talks in Tehran on Friday on defusing
the standoff between Iran and the United States and its European Union allies.
"China will explore with Iran how to ease the crisis under present
circumstances and how to take practical measures to stop the problem from
worsening," ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a news briefing.
Russia and China fear steps toward sanctions will only worsen the crisis by
driving Iran into a corner and imperiling a U.N. inspections regime that Tehran
has promised to retain.
But Washington says Iran must pay a serious price if it does not act soon to
clear up suspicions about its atomic ambitions.
Iran says its nuclear industry will only be used to generate electricity, not
to make bombs.
BE FLEXIBLE, CHINA URGES WEST
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing appealed on Wednesday to the West to be patient
and flexible in the hope that Iran and the three EU powers which froze
negotiations in anger at Tehran's resumption of enrichment work could revive
dialogue.
"The days before the March 6 meeting of the IAEA are crucial," Xinhua news
agency quoted Li as saying after meeting visiting German Foreign Minister
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose country along with Britain and France form the EU
trio.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Thursday Tehran was
seriously considering Russia's proposal but needs to discuss further the timing
and place for any enrichment.
Discussions between Iran and Russia over the offer ended on Tuesday with an
agreement to continue talks this week during a visit to Tehran by the head of
Moscow's nuclear agency.
"There must be some new elements in that proposal. If you ask about the main
elements I will tell you -- the timing and place," Mottaki told reporters during
a visit to Jakarta.
Iran's atomic energy commission chief has asked Russia to specify whether its
plan would allow Iranian scientists to take part, or would limit Tehran's role
to a financial stake, which he said would be unacceptable.
The main sticking point seems to be Russia's condition that Iran re-suspend
enrichment-related activity at its underground Natanz plant resumed last month
after a 2 1/2-year moratorium agreed during talks with the EU trio.
"The negotiations with Iran are not easy but we are counting on reaching a
positive result. We are not losing optimism," Russian President Vladimir Putin
said on Wednesday.
Washington wants a Security Council debate on sanctions but faces resistance
from Russia and China, which are among the five permanent members of the top
world body and have veto power.
"We believe that the Security Council is not a tool for specific countries to
use it against other independent countries. We believe the time for tough
language is over. The time for a unilateral approach is over," Mottaki said.
|
