Source: http://www.un.int/usa/06_082.htm http://www.un.int/usa/06_082.htm
Date: April 18, 2006

United States Mission to the United Nations

USUN PRESS RELEASE # 82 (06)   
April 18, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	 	 
Remarks by Ambassador Bolton on Sudan at the Security Council Stakeout, April 18, 2006
Ambassador Bolton:  I’ll just say I did introduce our resolution on sanctions on Sudan and because of all the other things going on, we’ll talk about it tomorrow.  But it’s distributed tonight, governments can send it home for reactions in their capitals and we’re going to proceed for its consideration tomorrow.
Reporter:  Mr. Ambassador, why did you take the names out of the resolution?
Ambassador Bolton:  Because the names are of course known to the Security Council.  We know who they are, that’s why I left the identification in.  But at this point, the names have not been released by the Sanctions Committee or by the Security Council.  When we come to the point when we’re ready to put the resolution in blue, of course, I will put the names in.  But for purposes of Council consideration, we’re able to talk about those names and, in fact, the Sanctions Committee itself will discuss it tomorrow.  We’ll have one discussion in the Sanctions Committee, one discussion in informal consultations here.
Reporter:  Ambassador, is it your sense that the Chinese have softened their stance on sanctions?
Ambassador Bolton:  Well, we really haven’t had much of a chance to talk about it because of all the other briefings, but we did have, of course, Salim Salim, as briefer, AU Special Envoy, and I’m sure that’ll be taken into consideration as well.
Reporter:  Are your efforts being kicked back by the fact that Salim Ahmed Salim pretty much indicated that there is hope to reach some agreement by April 30th?
Ambassador Bolton:  He was asked what people thought of considering the sanctions question now, he said it’s up to the Security Council.
Reporter:  But then he said that there’s hope and that was the main argument by the Chinese.
Ambassador Bolton:  Well, we’ll discuss it in the Council tomorrow.  We’ll see what the impact is.
Reporter:  Did you feel that his upbeat assessment could be (inaudible) sort of idea, but was really justified by the fact that (inaudible)?
Ambassador Bolton:  Well, I thought it was striking how many questions were put to him by members of the Security Council when he finished.  There were a lot of questions.
Reporter:  (Inaudible) I asked him after the briefing whether he expected to accept the proposal presented by (inaudible) and he said yes.  I mean, he’s really optimistic and in light of this, couldn’t you wait till the 30th of April?
Ambassador Bolton:  Well, we certainly wish him well and everybody has said the Council would be happy to try and do what we could to support his efforts.  But he also said, recall on his earlier briefing to the Council, that the Council has to speak credibly and that applying pressure through sanctions could have a positive impact.  So, I think the issue is not decided one way or the other by his briefing.  The Council will have to consider the merits tomorrow or in the coming days. 
Reporter:  But he also said it could have a negative effect and hardened positions.
Ambassador Bolton:  That’s always a risk, but on the other hand, 1591 was passed over a year ago and sanctions against some of these individuals are long overdue.
Reporter:  Will we have nine supporters for this resolution?
Ambassador Bolton:  Well, our goal is to have as many as we can put together without a veto, so that work remains to be done -- there’s no question about that.  Chinese and Russian opposition was stated the other day and we’re still dealing with it.
Reporter:  On the issue of the names and whether or not to release them.  Many of us have the names and the question is whether you’re not releasing them publicly as part of more a procedural thing or whether you legitimately fear that releasing the names will help them squirrel away their assets and go into hiding.
Ambassador Bolton:  I don’t think that I can really know the answer to that question.  Our view was that the responsible way to proceed at this stage was not to put the names in the resolution because they’ve not been made public.  And if others have them, I can’t do anything about that, but what I can do at this stage, because we don’t know how long consideration of the resolution will take, is not put the names in the draft – which is the way we’ve preceded.   
Reporter:  Any relation to this whole effort happening while President Hu is in Washington?
Ambassador Bolton:  The chronology is what it is.  We’d like to move quickly on this decision to impose the sanctions on these four individuals.
Reporter:  Do you have any read of the African nations’ positions on the Council from the resolution?
Ambassador Bolton:  Well, we’re still in consultation on it.  No, I don’t really at this point, but we’ve had a lot of consultations with them.  I’m sure that’ll continue tomorrow.
Okay, thanks very much.