Source: http://www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/06_190.htm http://www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/06_190.htm Date: July 28, 2006 USUN PRESS RELEASE #  190(06)   July 28, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Remarks by Ambassador John R. Bolton, U.S. Representative to the United Nations, on Iran at the Security Council stakeout, July 28, 2006. Ambassador Bolton: Well, let me just say we expect that Ambassador de la Sablière will introduce here shortly the agreed upon Presidential text regarding Iran and that that draft text will impose a mandatory and binding requirement on Iran that it suspend all uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities and indicate as well the agreement of the P-5 plus Germany foreign ministers some weeks ago that if Iran fails to comply with this mandatory obligation, that we will move to sanctions in the Security Council. It’s possible that we could put the text in blue as early as today and then we’d have to make a decision when to vote on it. So with that, I'm open to any questions. And I don't have any criticisms today of any Reuters stories. Reporter: Ambassador, is this -- Reporter: (inaudible.) Ambassador Bolton: Today. Today I said. Reporter: (inaudible) -- usually do the calling on that. Reporter: Is this, like the Russian ambassador said, an invitation for a dialogue with Iran? Ambassador Bolton: This is a mandatory command -- will be if it's adopted, of course -- to Iran to comply with IAEA resolutions that have been repeatedly adopted that they need to suspend their uranium enrichment activity. The resolution will make clear what the foreign ministers have said on several occasions, and specifically what Secretary Rice has said. Namely, it presents Iran with a choice. They can take one path and suspend their uranium enrichment activities and then come into discussion on the very generous offer that Javier Solana made to them on June the 6th, or if they choose not to suspend their uranium enrichment requirements, they will face increasing international isolation, economic and political pressure. So I think this resolution will put the ball back in Iran's court. Reporter: And how long will Iran have to make that choice? Ambassador Bolton: It will have until the 31st of August; again, assuming the resolution is adopted in the form it's about to be circulated in. Reporter: Ambassador, any progress on any kind of talk on cease-fire in Lebanon? I mean, it's going out of hand, but nobody seems to be acting. Ambassador Bolton: Well, I think at the moment, President Bush and Prime Minister Blair, I'm sure, are discussing the pressing humanitarian issues in Lebanon and will be addressing that shortly, which is one reason I'd like to finish this before they come out. And I think whatever additional points are going to be made with respect to Lebanon that the president and Prime Minister Blair will make them. Anything else? Reporter: (inaudible) -- the adoption of the Iranian resolution on Monday? Is that -- Ambassador Bolton: Well, I don't think there's a firm decision on the date. We have to see if the non-permanent members are going to have their own comments or questions. But it would be our intention, and I think the French presidency of the council will announce it's our hope that we'll be able to put the resolution in blue today. Reporter: Ambassador – Ambassador Bolton: Evelyn from Reuters. Reporter: Has the United States approved -- I'm not sure what you said before -- the United States approved the informal -- the draft that was concocted yesterday minus 1540 and so forth? Ambassador Bolton: Well, the draft that will be circulated will say what it says. I think we have concluded, along with the three European nations and I think the Russians and the Chinese, that the text will be abundantly clear that the resolution is mandatory and fully binding on Iran in the sense that they have to give up their uranium enrichment activities. And it also calls on all member states not to cooperate in any way with Iran's uranium enrichment activities or ballistic missile programs. Reporter: Ambassador -- (inaudible) -- angry about its inability to get a presidential statement on Lebanon condemning Israel's attack on the four peacekeepers. Can you – Ambassador Bolton: Sorry. Sorry. What was the first part of the question? Reporter: That China's ambassador expressed frustration to us yesterday that the United States has not supported a tougher presidential statement on Lebanon, and he said that this would have negative impact on other work in the Security Council, including Iran. Have you -- any indication at this point that China is hardening its opposition to the Iran resolution, that it'll be more difficult to deal with now? Ambassador Bolton: As far as I know, they support the text that the French will introduce as the presidential text. Reporter: Ambassador, how do you feel about the pace in which things have gone in the Security Council over Iran? And also, we just had Ambassador Churkin stressing that this is not a sanctions resolution; that this doesn't smack of sanctions; that you still would have to have negotiations over Article 41 down the road. It seems like things are way out ahead in terms of – Ambassador Bolton: Well, I think our secretary of State has a pretty clear idea what she agreed with the other Perm 5 foreign ministers, that if Iran chooses not to comply with this mandatory resolution, chooses to continue to pursue the Iranian enrichment activities that the resolution addresses, that the next step will be the consideration of sanctions in the Security Council. It would be our intention to move forcefully to get those sanctions adopted. That's what the ministers agreed to. Reporter: Ambassador, Ambassador Churkin of Russia just also said on the issue of the possible meeting with Security Council ministerial level on Lebanon, he said that his personal understanding is that there is a misunderstanding of this whole issue. I am totally confused. Could you tell me if there's going to be one? Did you ask for one? Who are you talking about a ministerial meeting? What's it for? What are you going to do with it? Ambassador Bolton: I think as to whether there'll be any announcements on that subject, I'll defer to the press conference, which is expected shortly, by the president and the prime minister. Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, back on the issue of the Chinese presidential statement, there was talk from Ambassador Wang, as well as from many other diplomats, that he was personally quite upset that he was negotiating with a relatively lower-level counselor from the American side and not you personally on the issue of this statement which was of such importance to him. Have you talked to him about this? Was there any lingering – Ambassador Bolton: I haven't spoken to Ambassador Wang today. I haven't seen him here. But I did negotiate with him on Wednesday morning. I think I reported that in the council and to you. I then left at the call of the United States Senate and I was not here. But Ambassador Sanders yesterday conducted the negotiations following her instructions from Washington. Reporter: Ambassador, in this respect, do you believe that China is firmly onboard with you on the Iranian resolution? Ambassador Bolton: I have no reason to believe otherwise. Reporter: What is -- Reporter: Ambassador, we've been hearing for about four days now that -- very close to an agreement. It seems that the agreement was reached because language was chosen that could -- that both sides could give different interpretations to. I'm wondering, does that just sort of dilute the effect of this resolution? Ambassador Bolton: No. I think you will see from the text that it says expressly that this resolution is mandatory, and that's about as clear as I know how to make it, anyway. Reporter: In Somalia, the transitional government had resignations, now an assassination, and there's reports of Ethiopia being in the country. Is the U.S. -- what is the U.S. position, and are you going to ask for any Security Council action on this? Ambassador Bolton: I think we're still trying to evaluate what's happening on the ground and don't have any plans at the moment for council action. Okay?