27 January 2006
International
China supports Russia stand
- By AFP
Beijing, Jan. 26: China on Thursday backed a plan to have Iran's uranium enriched in Russia, as the Islamic republic's top security envoy met with Chinese officials in Beijing for talks on his nation's nuclear programme.
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, on Wednesday gave fresh life to the Russian plan as a way to appease international concern that the Iranian nuclear energy programme is a front for weapons.
Mr Larijani, who was in Moscow, said "we positively evaluate this offer," and that the plan could be "perfected" in talks with Russian officials next month. Mr Larijani then travelled to Beijing, where he held talks with Chinese foreign minister Li Zhaoxing and other senior officials on Thursday.
China, which is a key player in the global standoff because it is a permanent veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council, said it too backed the plan to have Iran's uranium enriched on Russian territory.
"We think the suggestion would be a good attempt at breaking the stalemate," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan told a regular press briefing when asked about the proposal.
Mr Kong also reiterated China's Opposition to UN-imposed sanctions and that it preferred diplomatic efforts to any other method of ending the global stand-off over Iran's nuclear programme. "In treating similar complicated issues, our position has been very clear, we are opposed to the use of sanctions or the threat of sanctions to resolve problems, as this will often complicate issues," he said. China's comments may have offered hope to Iran as it seeks to fend off efforts from the United States and the so-called E-3 nations of France, Germany and Britain to refer it to the UN Security Council over its nuclear programme. Under the proposed Russian arrangement, uranium for Iran's nascent nuclear power programme would be enriched in Russia in order to keep tabs on the material.
It would allay Western and Israeli fears that Iran secretly plans to build a nuclear weapon under cover of the civilian power project.
The European Union and the United States have previously given backing to the Russian plan. However, some concern has been expressed that, with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN's nuclear watchdog, due to meet on February 2 to discuss the Iranian issue, Iran is playing the Russian card to stall for time.
The IAEA could decide to send Iran to the UN Security Council, which could then lead to sanctions. China has consistently advocated a policy of negotiations on the Iran nuclear issue, partly motivated by its economic interests in oil and gas-rich Iran.
Its general reluctance to exert overt pressure such as sanctions in international relations is another factor. Mr Larijani was due to hold a press conference in Beijing on late Thursday afternoon before departing China.