France: Option To Refer Iran to UN Council Still on Agenda

Kuwait News Agency:

French Foreign Minister Philipppe Douste-Blazy late Saturday said referring the Iranian nuclear file to the Security Council is still on the agenda of the E-3, France, UK and Germany.

Reacting to Iranian Presisdent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech in the General Assembly where he offered a new proposal on his country's nuclear file, Douste-Blazy told reporters that "What I have heard today lets me believe that the option of a referral to the Security Council remains on the agenda." He said he would consult further with his British and German counterparts. The three ministers held talks Wednesday with Ahmadinejad in the presence of Secretary-General Kofi Annan. "I note the President is in favour of the Non proliferation treaty. I am nontheless concerned by his intention to develop the cycle technology despite the concerns of the international community," he explained.

"Our position remains firm: Iran must not develop cycle technology as this would give it the opportunity to produce fissile material, and we believe that Iran must not produce fissile materials as long as the IAEA does not certify that it is for peaceful purposes," he said.

On Iran's proposal to have countries such as South Africa join in the negotiations, the French minister said "I don't see what the association with third country to the uranium programme will contribute to ensure confidence." South African President Thabo M'beki told the assembly right after Ahmadinejad's speech that negotiations on this issue should resume and the matter settled within the context of the provisions of the NPT and with the full participation of the IAEA. READ MORE

Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura, whose country is a council member, "strongly urged Iran to seriously implement all the requirements of the relevant IAEA resolutions, including the full suspension of uranium conversion activities, and to return to the negotiations with the E-3.

In an interview with TIME Magazine to be published Monday, Ahmadinejad attacked the US and E-3 threat to bring the issue to the council.

He implied that if the council does eventually try to impose sanctions on his country, Iran would consider a variety of responses, possibly including use of the oil weapon, and denial of access to international nuclear inspectors.

In his speech to the assembly, Ahmadinejad warned that if some try to impose their will on the Iranian people through resort to a language of force and thrust with Iran, "We will reconsider our entire approach to the nuclear issue." US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she had not read Ahmadinejad's speech but advised Iran to hold "realistic discussions," even though the US Administration said earlier this week that the US might settle for a delay.

Referral of the file to the council is doomed because Iran is supported in the council by two veto powers: Russia and China.