http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16692536%255E3
1477,00.html
DEFENCE
Moscow to Iran's nukes rescue
Correspondents in Vienna
September 23, 2005
THE European Union has backed off from calling Iran before the UN Security
Council after Russia threw Tehran a diplomatic lifeline by publicly
defending it against the West's demands that the Islamic republic be held
accountable for its nuclear program.
The European decision to postpone its push to refer Iran to the UN Security
Council until a November board meeting of the International Atomic Energy
Agency appeared driven by concerns about strong opposition from Russia and
China.
After two days of heated debate among the 35 members of the IAEA in Vienna,
the Kremlin said it was prepared to block moves by the European Union to
have Iran referred to the UN Security Council for possible punitive action.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the EU move as
"counter-productive", insisting that the issue could be resolved through
diplomatic means.
"While Iran is co-operating with the IAEA, while it is not enriching uranium
and observing a moratorium, while IAEA inspectors are working in the
country, it would be counter-productive to report this question to the UN
Security Council," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. "It will
lead to an unnecessary politicising of the situation."
Moscow's position matters. Not only does it have the support of a dozen IAEA
members, but also a Security Council veto.
The position, however, appeared only to harden resolve in the EU, which
failed to clinch a deal with Tehran in two years of talks.
Peter Jenkins, the British representative to the IAEA, read a statement that
says the EU was "deeply concerned by the fact that Iran gives every sign of
being intent on developing a fissile material production capability well
before the international community obtains what it needs: confidence that
Iran's program is peaceful".
Although a new EU draft motion does not mention Security Council sanctions,
it still calls for reporting Iran to the council if it continues defying
board demands that include freezing activities related to uranium
enrichment, senior diplomats said.
The text is expected to be introduced at this week's IAEA meeting, but any
vote on referral would come only at a future session.
The earliest would be when the board meets in November.
Just hours before the new draft was drawn up, the chief US representative to
the IAEA lobbied board members for action this week on the motion.
The motion is formally a EU initiative but is being orchestrated in close
consultation with Washington and backed by Australia, Japan, Canada and
others at the meeting.
"We agree with the European Union and a growing majority of the board that
the time has come to report Iran's (nuclear) noncompliance to the Security
Council," US delegation head Gregory Schulte told the meeting. "It is now
time for the board to do our duty."
But a diplomat familiar with US thinking said the decision to postpone
referral suited Washington, which was not interested in losing a Security
Council battle against veto-carrying members Russia and China.
A European official said China appeared rigid in its opposition, but "the
key is to gain Russia, and we think we can gain Russia at a later date".
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday his country wanted
peace, but warned that any nation considering attacking the Islamic republic
faced a "destructive and fiery" response.
"Relying on our nation and armed forces, we will make the aggressor regret
its actions," Mr Ahmadinejad warned, telling Iran's army to "prepare their
defensive readiness" and calling for an "expansion of the defence industries
and the utilisation of the latest technology".
The Times, AP
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