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CHINA: SANCTIONS CANNOT "FUNDAMENTALLY" RESOLVE IRAN NUCLEAR DISPUTE
PanARMENIAN.Net
November 10, 2011 - 12:50 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - China's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, November
10, that sanctions cannot "fundamentally" resolve the Iran nuclear
dispute, after Western leaders urged expanded sanctions against Iran
over a UN watchdog report that Tehran has worked to design atom bombs.
"We always believe that dialogue and cooperation is the right way
to solve the Iranian nuclear issue. Sanctions cannot fundamentally
solve the issue," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
"The pressing task now is all parties concerned step up diplomatic
efforts," Hong added.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concluded in a report this
week that Iran appears to have worked on designing an atomic weapon.
"We hope the IAEA will be fair and objective, and actively committed
to clarifying the salient issues through cooperation with Iran,"
he said. "This is the pressing task at this stage."
The Chinese spokesman's remarks underscored the tough task facing
Western governments who hope to win Beijing's backing for tougher
United Nations sanctions on Iran. But Hong's words fell short of an
outright no.
Beijing has said sanctions are not a "fundamental" answer before, when
it ultimately voted for U.N. Security Council resolutions imposing
sanctions on Iran for its disputed nuclear activities. China, which
has kept close ties with Iran, has also backed past U.N. Security
Council resolutions criticizing Iran's position on nuclear issues
and authorizing limited sanctions.
Iran is China's third-largest crude oil supplier, shipping 20.3
million tons in the first nine months of the year, up by almost a
third on the same period last year, according to Chinese data.
China has repeatedly resisted Western proposals for sanctions that
could seriously curtail its energy and economic ties with Iran. As
one of the Security Council's five permanent members, China holds
the power to veto any resolutions.
China has also denounced the United States and European Union for
imposing their own separate sanctions on Iran, and said they should
not take steps reaching beyond the U.N. resolutions.
Spokesman Hong warned on Wednesday against turmoil in the Middle East
from action over Iran's nuclear program, Reuters reported.
PanARMENIAN.Net
November 10, 2011 - 12:50 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - China's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, November
10, that sanctions cannot "fundamentally" resolve the Iran nuclear
dispute, after Western leaders urged expanded sanctions against Iran
over a UN watchdog report that Tehran has worked to design atom bombs.
"We always believe that dialogue and cooperation is the right way
to solve the Iranian nuclear issue. Sanctions cannot fundamentally
solve the issue," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
"The pressing task now is all parties concerned step up diplomatic
efforts," Hong added.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concluded in a report this
week that Iran appears to have worked on designing an atomic weapon.
"We hope the IAEA will be fair and objective, and actively committed
to clarifying the salient issues through cooperation with Iran,"
he said. "This is the pressing task at this stage."
The Chinese spokesman's remarks underscored the tough task facing
Western governments who hope to win Beijing's backing for tougher
United Nations sanctions on Iran. But Hong's words fell short of an
outright no.
Beijing has said sanctions are not a "fundamental" answer before, when
it ultimately voted for U.N. Security Council resolutions imposing
sanctions on Iran for its disputed nuclear activities. China, which
has kept close ties with Iran, has also backed past U.N. Security
Council resolutions criticizing Iran's position on nuclear issues
and authorizing limited sanctions.
Iran is China's third-largest crude oil supplier, shipping 20.3
million tons in the first nine months of the year, up by almost a
third on the same period last year, according to Chinese data.
China has repeatedly resisted Western proposals for sanctions that
could seriously curtail its energy and economic ties with Iran. As
one of the Security Council's five permanent members, China holds
the power to veto any resolutions.
China has also denounced the United States and European Union for
imposing their own separate sanctions on Iran, and said they should
not take steps reaching beyond the U.N. resolutions.
Spokesman Hong warned on Wednesday against turmoil in the Middle East
from action over Iran's nuclear program, Reuters reported.