Source: http://www.un.int/usa/07_157.htm http://www.un.int/usa/07_157.htm
Date: June 21, 2007

USUN PRESS RELEASE #  157(07)   
June 21, 2007 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Statement by Ambassador Jackie Sanders, Alternate United States Representative for Special Political Affairs, on the 90-Day Report by 1737 Sanctions Committee Chairman, to the Security Council, June 21, 2007 
Mr. President,
Our delegation wishes to express its appreciation for Ambassador Verbeke’s continued leadership as the Chairman of the UNSC 1737 Sanctions Committee and for this report to the Council today. Ambassador Verbeke’s efforts were essential in the Committee’s establishment of its guidelines on 30 May 2007 and they continue to be critical as the Committee now shifts to a discussion of substantive matters.
Mr. President,
Ninety days have passed and unfortunately we cannot report that Iran has complied with either resolution 1737, adopted on December 23, 2006, or resolution 1747, adopted on March 24, 2007. To the contrary, IAEA Director General El Baradei’s report to the Council and to the IAEA Board of Governors on  May 23confirms that Iran has failed to suspend its uranium enrichment- and heavy water-related activities, and to cooperate fully with the IAEA in its ongoing investigation. Instead, Iran has taken steps to limit the IAEA’s access to the Arak Heavy Water Research Reactor and announced a suspension of implementation of the early declaration provisions of its IAEA Safeguards Agreement; the legitimacy of these steps has been refuted by the IAEA, but Iran’s decisions in this regard are deeply troubling.
We continue to urge all Member States to stress to Iran the importance of its compliance with its obligations in their regular discussions and consultations with Iran, and the benefits that will accrue to Iran in return for compliance. In that regard, I would like to reiterate that the generous package offered to Iran in June 2006 by the P5+1 remains on the table. We believe this package and the historic offer extended by the U.S. to engage in direct talks with Iran, alongside our P5+1 partners, should Iran suspend enrichment, represents the best path toward a diplomatic solution of this matter. It is our hope that the Iranian regime will change its current, confrontational course, suspend its proliferation sensitive nuclear activities, and engage in constructive negotiations on the future of its nuclear program.
Mr. President,
We are pleased to note that so many states have taken their obligations under UNSCR’s 1737 and 1747 seriously, and have submitted timely and substantive reports on their implementation of the measures contained therein. Our delegation found many of these reports informative in their scope and discussion.  On the other hand, we found some reports to be less than detailed in their treatment of the steps taken by Member States to enforce or enact laws or regulations to implement the resolution. Comprehensive descriptions of these steps are necessary in order for members of the Committee to have a complete picture of Member State implementation of  1737 and 1747. We encourage States to provide the greatest detail possible when responding to these reporting requests and, more generally, to any such requests set forth in Security Council resolutions.
 
We are pleased to note that many States have responded to the Security Council’s call for implementation reports for 1747, but are concerned that only 40% of Member States have submitted reports as required by UNSCR 1737. We urge those States that have not yet done so to fulfill this requirement and to ensure the implementation of these resolutions without delay.
Finally, we also take note of numerous notifications invoking exemptions to the asset freeze requirements of Security Council Resolution 1737 under Operative Paragraphs 13 and 15 of that resolution, and stress that Member States should be judicious in the application of these exemptions. We also encourage Member States, firms, and financial institutions to close out quickly any existing legitimate contracts with designated individuals and entities.
Mr. President,
Our delegation looks forward to continuing to work with others in the Committee to execute our mandate under 1737, and ensure the most robust and comprehensive implementation possible of these critical resolutions in order to achieve their ultimate objectives.
Thank you, Mr. President.