Russia upbeat but wants changes on Iran UN measure

United Nations, Dec 12: Russia praised a European draft UN resolution imposing sanctions on Iran's nuclear materials but objected to a travel ban and wanted to ease a freeze on financial assets on Tehran officials.

''It should not take too long,'' Moscow's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters yesterday when asked about a possible vote by Christmas. But he quipped that the ''Russian Christmas is on the 7th of January.'' Britain and France presented the draft, a softer version of the original one, to the full 15-member Security Council in hopes of a vote by Christmas.

''The intent of the resolution (is) to stop any risk of proliferation of sensitive nuclear and missile technologies and at the same time to convince Iran (to) go back to negotiations,'' said Britain's UN Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry. ''If Iran complies, the process stops. That much is clear.'' The resolution bans imports and exports of materials and technology relating to uranium enrichment, reprocessing or heavy-water reactors as well as ballistic missile delivery systems for a bomb, which Moscow approves.

The proposals are a reaction to Iran's failure to comply with an Aug. 31 UN deadline to suspend uranium enrichment, which can produce fuel for nuclear power plants or for bombs.

Iran says it is pursuing nuclear power for peaceful purposes, while the West believes its research is a cover for bomb making.

France's UN Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere reminded reporters that Iran ''for 13 years has concealed its activities and this has created mistrust.'' The US-backed resolution, drawn up by Britain, France and Germany, would impose a travel ban and freeze the assets of institutions and individuals involved in Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

DOUBTS ABOUT TRAVEL BAN

But China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya made clear Beijing and Moscow were uneasy about those provisions. ''The travel ban will always be regarded as a humiliation,'' he said.

Added Churkin: ''We do have some doubts about the appropriateness of the travel ban in this resolution.'' Churkin said the financial freeze should also be refined to make sure an agency on the list that engaged in both prohibited and legal activities would not necessarily be punished.

An annex to the resolution, obtained by Reuters, singles out 11 agencies or businesses and 12 individuals involved in Iran's nuclear and ballistic missiles programs.

A key concession to Russia was allowing the continued construction and supply of fuel to an 800 million dollar light-water reactor it is building at Bushehr in southwest Iran. The original draft was ambiguous on fuel supplies.

The text says the council would consider lifting the sanctions if Mohamed ElBaradei, director-general of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, decides Iran has suspended its uranium work and stopped efforts to produce a heavy-water nuclear energy reactor. He reports within 60 days.

The draft also includes a provision urging nations to ''prevent specialized teaching or training'' of Iranian nationals in areas that could advance training of banned nuclear work.

And it threatens further measures if Iran does not comply but it is doubtful any will be imposed, considering the weeks of haggling over an initial resolution.

As in the earlier draft, the resolution invokes Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which makes enforcement mandatory. But it points to Article 41, that pertains only to sanctions and not to any possible military enforcement.

REUTERS

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