Guerrilla22
16th February 2007, 09:22
UNITED NATIONS - At Iran's request, the U.N. Security Council on Thursday condemned the deadliest terrorist attack in the country in years and extended "sincere condolences" to the Iranian people — but not to their government, at U.S. insistence.
Reports out of Iran said 11 members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard died Wednesday when a car packed with explosives stopped in front of a bus near the Pakistani border, while the council statement put the death toll at 18 and said many more were wounded. The discrepancy couldn't be immediately clarified as Iranian diplomats did not comment after the session and Iran's U.N. mission did not return calls.
Acting U.S. Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said it was "a rich irony" that Tehran, which has refused to implement a council resolution demanding suspension of its uranium enrichment program, asked the council to adopt the statement condemning the attack.
"We rejoice in the fact that the government recognizes that the council is the supreme body to deal with issues of international peace and security," Wolff said. "Now we call on the government of Iran to implement its obligations under existing Security Council resolutions and respect them the way it sought our respect for recognition of this terrorist act."
The Security Council is expected to receive a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency next week on Iran's compliance with the resolution demanding it suspend enrichment of uranium, which can lead to production of nuclear weapons. The resolution, adopted on Dec. 23, imposed sanctions on Iran and warned that it would adopt further nonmilitary sanctions if Tehran refuses to comply.
Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, who proposed the press statement at the request of Iran's U.N. Mission, expressed hope that the council's approval will have "a positive spillover" on the nuclear issue and lead to improved relations between Iran and the Security Council.
"We hope it will have that effect — that the Security Council and Iran are getting re-engaged," Churkin said. "Maybe we cannot read too much into it, but I do believe that it's important that the Iranian delegation chose to turn to the Security Council in this context."
The council statement "reiterated that no cause can justify the use of terrorist violence."
Council members "underlined the need to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this terrorist attack, as with all terrorist attacks," it said.
"The members of the Security Council extended their sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to the Iranian people," the statement said.
The United States insisted that a phrase sending condolences to the government of Iran as well be dropped.
"It's a very important point," Wolff said, "because the Iranian government has said they don't recognize the legitimacy of the Security Council — and it's the Iranian people who merit our condolences for terrorist acts and any suffering they incur."
Reports out of Iran said 11 members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard died Wednesday when a car packed with explosives stopped in front of a bus near the Pakistani border, while the council statement put the death toll at 18 and said many more were wounded. The discrepancy couldn't be immediately clarified as Iranian diplomats did not comment after the session and Iran's U.N. mission did not return calls.
Acting U.S. Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said it was "a rich irony" that Tehran, which has refused to implement a council resolution demanding suspension of its uranium enrichment program, asked the council to adopt the statement condemning the attack.
"We rejoice in the fact that the government recognizes that the council is the supreme body to deal with issues of international peace and security," Wolff said. "Now we call on the government of Iran to implement its obligations under existing Security Council resolutions and respect them the way it sought our respect for recognition of this terrorist act."
The Security Council is expected to receive a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency next week on Iran's compliance with the resolution demanding it suspend enrichment of uranium, which can lead to production of nuclear weapons. The resolution, adopted on Dec. 23, imposed sanctions on Iran and warned that it would adopt further nonmilitary sanctions if Tehran refuses to comply.
Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, who proposed the press statement at the request of Iran's U.N. Mission, expressed hope that the council's approval will have "a positive spillover" on the nuclear issue and lead to improved relations between Iran and the Security Council.
"We hope it will have that effect — that the Security Council and Iran are getting re-engaged," Churkin said. "Maybe we cannot read too much into it, but I do believe that it's important that the Iranian delegation chose to turn to the Security Council in this context."
The council statement "reiterated that no cause can justify the use of terrorist violence."
Council members "underlined the need to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this terrorist attack, as with all terrorist attacks," it said.
"The members of the Security Council extended their sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to the Iranian people," the statement said.
The United States insisted that a phrase sending condolences to the government of Iran as well be dropped.
"It's a very important point," Wolff said, "because the Iranian government has said they don't recognize the legitimacy of the Security Council — and it's the Iranian people who merit our condolences for terrorist acts and any suffering they incur."