Source: http://www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/06_281.htm http://www.usunnewyork.usmission.gov/06_281.htm
Date: October 13, 2006

USUN PRESS RELEASE # 281(06)   
October 13, 2006 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 	 	 
Remarks by Ambassador John R. Bolton, U.S. Representative to the United Nations, on the draft resolution on North Korea, Georgia and other matters, at the Security Council stakeout, October 13, 2006 
Ambassador Bolton: Okay, let me just say briefly, if I can, where we stand here.  The Council has agreed, basically, that we will put our text of a resolution in blue this afternoon and vote tomorrow morning.  We don't have an exact time of the vote, but we expect tomorrow morning.  There may be some additional changes to the text between now and the time we put it in blue this afternoon, and obviously before we vote tomorrow.  But we do have agreement -- unanimous agreement -- we're going to follow that schedule. 
       We'll have some additional consultations here, but I want you to bear in mind the comparison between the speed with which we've moved on this one compared to the missile launch.  The missiles were launched by North Korea on July the 4th.  The Council adopted Resolution 1695 on Saturday, July the 15th.  It took 11 days.  Here the North Koreans tested on October the 9th New York time, and I hope that we will have a vote -- expect to have a vote by the 14th of October, five days.  So that is, I think, a sign of the determination of the Council in the face of this threat to move quickly, and we will see through further consultations today what additional changes may or may not be required. 
Reporter: Ambassador, can you sort of explain in a little more detail on the inspection regime?  Does this resolution give states the right to interdict North Korean ships on the high seas?  And also presumably states -- any state would have the right, as U.S. Customs does with, you know, cargo coming into the United States from Mexico, to inspect any cargo, you know, going across their borders.  What is -- you know, what additional powers does this resolution provide to states wanting to do these sorts of things? 
Ambassador Bolton: The resolution obviously states that it would be consistent with international law and national authorities, but it specifically gives states the right -- indeed, the obligation -- to help in inspections, to support the objectives of this resolution so that there's no ambiguity on that point.  And we think that's a substantial step forward. In a way it is a kind of codification of the Proliferation Security Initiative, specifically with respect to North Korea. 
       Now, how the -- how operationally this would proceed, I expect that most inspections would take place in port.  That's the -- that's the most desirable.  Let me just say as well that we refer to cargo.  You can have air cargo, sea cargo and land cargo.  So this is all cargo; it's not just ships that we're talking about.  But there are circumstances in which ships can be boarded at sea.  That's entirely consistent with the Proliferation Security Initiative, and we and others have undertaken such boardings. 
Reporter: On that measure, does that mean that, in very simple terms, that you could possibly walk -- the U.S. could go into another country's waters to help cooperate -- 
 Ambassador Bolton: The pattern we followed is with the cooperation of other countries.  That's what PSI countries have worked on.  We've got very excellent arrangements.  We've signed ship-boarding agreements with a number of countries.  And I'm sure that that -- that pattern will be followed here. 
Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, would you say that -- it has been reported so far that China and Russia have been, in fact, stalling those negotiations. 
Ambassador Bolton: I don't -- no, I wouldn't say they've been stalling the negotiations. If we have a vote tomorrow, it's pretty hard to say that in five days that there was any stalling. I think they've been negotiating in good faith once they got their instructions. 
Reporter: On Georgia, Ambassador Churkin said that the Abkhaz foreign ministry called him, a person from Abkhazia.  Was the U.S. embassy in Moscow didn't give him a visa in exchange for somehow changing the language of the resolution on Georgia -- is that your understanding of what happened? He said it right here. 
Ambassador Bolton: I have -- yeah, you know, I have no idea what that's about. 
Reporter: And was there any linkage between the two issues, you think, for the U.S. or Russia, between the language of today's Georgia resolution and the North Korea resolution? 
Ambassador Bolton: Certainly not for the United States.  I'll let others speak for themselves. 
 Reporter: (Inaudible) the breakthrough on Georgia, for the U.S. to jump on board? 
Ambassador Bolton: What would I say about it?  Well, there was a conversation between Secretary Rice and Foreign Minister Lavrov to work out the issues, and we're obviously satisfied with that. 
Reporter: What is the timing for the Sanctions Committee to begin its work on the North Korea resolution?  And do you have a way to guarantee that the Chinese will monitor their shipments or exports from their borders, or -- 
Ambassador Bolton: Yeah, I can't speak to the operational questions yet.  But I expect if we're able to have this vote tomorrow, which I do expect, that we'll be operational as soon as we can.  
Reporter: Is luxury goods going to be in there now, or – 
Ambassador Bolton: Yeah, luxury goods is still in there. 
Reporter: Well, what's the point? Can you tell us what the point is of luxury goods? 
Ambassador Bolton: I think, you know, the North Korean population's been losing average height and weight over the years, and maybe this will be a little diet for Kim Jong Il.  See you later.