U.S. Ambassador John Bolton vowed to seek quick adoption of the draft (epa)
May 4, 2006 -- Britain and France, backed by the United States, have introduced a UN Security Council resolution demanding that Iran suspend uranium enrichment that they suspect is part of a covert nuclear-weapons program.
John Bolton, the US ambassador to the UN, said Washington will seek quick adoption of the resolution, possibly before foreign ministers of the five permanent Security Council members plus Germany meet in New York on May 8 and 9.
China, which along with Russia is a permanent Security Council member, has signaled resistance to the proposal. China's UN ambassador, Wang Guangya, said the current draft "will not produce good results."
Russia's new UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, stressed that Moscow will not back a resolution containing a threat of sanctions.
"It is clear for us that there should be no mentioning of sanctions in the resolution, and there isn't," Churkin said. "The draft doesn't mention sanctions. Our principle position is that the resolution should not contain anything that could be used as a ground for threat or use of force. We are convinced that there isn't a military solution to this problem."
U.S. President George W. Bush has demanded that Iran give up nuclear-weapons ambitions "for the sake of world peace."
Bush made the comment on May 3, following talks at the White House with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Both Bush and Merkel said it was important for the international community to stay united in the drive to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
(compiled from agency reports)
China, which along with Russia is a permanent Security Council member, has signaled resistance to the proposal. China's UN ambassador, Wang Guangya, said the current draft "will not produce good results."
Russia's new UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, stressed that Moscow will not back a resolution containing a threat of sanctions.
"It is clear for us that there should be no mentioning of sanctions in the resolution, and there isn't," Churkin said. "The draft doesn't mention sanctions. Our principle position is that the resolution should not contain anything that could be used as a ground for threat or use of force. We are convinced that there isn't a military solution to this problem."
U.S. President George W. Bush has demanded that Iran give up nuclear-weapons ambitions "for the sake of world peace."
Bush made the comment on May 3, following talks at the White House with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Both Bush and Merkel said it was important for the international community to stay united in the drive to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
(compiled from agency reports)
Iran's Nuclear Program
Iran's Nuclear Program
THE COMPLETE PICTURE: RFE/RL's complete coverage of controversy surrounding Iran's nuclear program.