Source: http://www.un.int/usa/06_164.htm http://www.un.int/usa/06_164.htm
Date: July 13, 2006

USUN PRESS RELEASE  #164  (06)   
July 13, 2006 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
United States Mission to the United Nations

Remarks by Ambassador John R. Bolton, U.S. Representative to the United Nations, on Iran, North Korea, and the Middle East, at the Security Council Stakeout, July 13, 2006 
Ambassador Bolton: Well, good morning, let me just say with respect to North Korea first that we’ve been in consultations much of the morning. We had a discussion among the five permanent members and Japan about the various resolutions. We’re expecting to meet later today, once again. Obviously it’s a pretty full day of business in the Council with Prime Minister Kostunica and other events. But we’re obviously still working away on North Korea. Why don’t I take your questions?

Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, on North Korea, could you give us a sense of whether there are any serious negotiations going on, on changing the text or trying to meld the two resolutions? The Japanese seem to be under great pressure to get a result before the G-8 summit? Do you expect a vote some time before, the summit I know starts Saturday? And also could you give us an update on the Iran resolution?

Ambassador Bolton: Yes, yes, yes and yes. We’ve had I think very serious discussions this morning among the five permanent members and Japan about the resolutions, but I think we have, we need to come back and talk further this afternoon. There’s no doubt that Japan and the United States would like to vote soon in response to the North Korean missile launches, and I think I’ve said earlier that we have deferred on a day-to-day basis this week a vote in the Council on our resolution because we were trying to give some time and space to the high-level Chinese mission to Pyongyang. Now, we asked Ambassador Wong here this morning if there was any news from Pyongyang, and he said that in fact there was no news at all. So it looks to me like Pyongyang’s intransigent attitude remains unchanged, and if that’s the case, I think dealing with these missile launches and the nuclear program impels us to move to a vote sooner rather than later. But I also think it’s important, that as I’ve said before, we give the Chinese and the Russians a chance to explain their text, explain the significant differences and weakness in their text compared to ours, and then try and take that into account. Now, on the subject of Iran, we will be circulating later today the text that was given to Iran by Javier Solana on June 6th, and we will then be commencing discussions. We’ve already had some preliminary discussions on how to follow through on the decision of our foreign ministers yesterday in Paris, to resume our discussions in the Security Council, given the Iranian failure to respond in any significant sense to Mr. Solana’s offer.

Reporter: Will they be giving more time to the Iranians regarding their proposal? 

Ambassador Bolton: I think they’ve had all the time they need. 

Reporter: There are impressions from the report out of Paris, and I want to know if this is your impression from conversations here in New York, that on the Iran resolution Russian and China might drop their traditional objections to Chapter 7 and to sanctions. 

Ambassador Bolton: Well, I think the first step, as was indicated in the statement that French Foreign Minister Douste-Blazy read yesterday, is we will move to make mandatory the requirement that Iran suspend its uranium enrichment activities with some reasonably short time fuse on that. And that then would be followed, as we’ve discussed by looking at targeted sanctions. So that’s the track we’re on and certainly we think that’s what the foreign ministers have agreed, all of them. All of the five permanent members have agreed. 

Reporter: Just a quick thing on that. Mandatory means Chapter 7, right?

Ambassador Bolton: It’s the convention of the perm five, but mandatory resolutions are under Chapter 7with a number of other formulations. One would seem to think if that’s what they agreed to, that’s what we should come up with. Anything more on Iran, while we’re on the subject?

Reporter: There’s an indication from some U.S. officials that the incentive package in full will be released here. Do you know about that? And which, or is that the Solana statement you’re talking about?

Ambassador Bolton: That’s what we’re going to circulate. That’s correct. 

Reporter: So it is being released today? 

Ambassador Bolton: The goodies bag, right.

Reporter: The goodies bag, okay.

Reporter: You said last week that the decision on the Iranian resolution could happen as early as last week. Does that indicate that the Perm Five are entirely on board with the June 6 text or more or less ready to proceed on that?

Ambassador Bolton: I think we’re entirely on board on proceeding. We’ll have to see what happens next week in terms of the text. 

Reporter: Is the old text going to be revived on Iran or is it going to be at least a basis for?

Ambassador Bolton: I think that’s a fair assumption. The ministers have had some conversations. We’re obviously going to pick up where they left off. Anything else on Iran?

Reporter: Have there been any conversations with your Japanese counterpart on trying to find a way to make this mandatory without going under Chapter 7? There were some reports the Japanese were reconsidering (inaudible)? 

Ambassador Bolton: I haven’t heard anything to that effect in several conversations. Lebanon?

Reporter: The Prime Minister of Lebanon asked for a session in the Security Council as soon as possible, any comment?

Ambassador Bolton: My understanding is that the government of Lebanon has asked for a Security Council debate tomorrow, Friday morning. And I suspect that that’s when it will be scheduled, but that’s all we’ve heard for sure. Yes?

Reporter: On the same subject Mr. Ambassador, it is perceived now, at least in the Arab world, that Lebanon is being punished. What’s your comment on that?

Ambassador Bolton: Well, I think the US position was made clear by Secretary Rice yesterday, that they’re responding to an act of terrorism and acting in self-defense. We’ll see what happens during the debate tomorrow. We also have the question today whether Qatar will continue to pursue its resolution on the Gaza strip. Our understanding from conversations in Doha is that will be postponed. And I think that would be useful. Anything else on the Middle East then?

Reporter: Do you hold the Lebanese government responsible for what happened, or do you think other regional countries are to blame? And also on the Qatar resolution, there have been some reports that the US has been putting pressure on member states not to vote for the resolution and that’s why it has been postponed. Do you have any comments on that?

Ambassador Bolton: We had said before we didn’t think any useful purpose would be served by a resolution or Council action with respect to the situation in Gaza, and so that has remained our position. We’ve conveyed that to other countries on the Security Council and other countries that are interested in the question. On the subject of Lebanon, I’ve indicated what the US position was. Let me just take one more here. 

Reporter: On North Korea, can you tell me where is the difference? Because North Korea is still trying and has said they are going to try further missiles. Where is the difference between North Korea and Iran when Iran hasn’t tried anything yet, but still you want to punish Iran more than North Korea? 

Ambassador Bolton: Well, I don’t think that’s an accurate statement. I think what we have said unequivocally to Iran is that they need to suspend their uranium enrichment activities and they continue to refuse to do that and their continued refusal to do that means they have taken a different path, which will lead to their increasing isolation. Okay, thanks very much.
 
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