Cape Town — South Africa has voted in favour of a new United Nations Security Council resolution imposing further sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment.
The Security Council on Monday passed the third set of sanctions against Iran over its pursuit of uranium enrichment which the international community fears could lead to the development of a nuclear weapon.
The resolution authorised a third round of sanctions targeting individuals, companies and equipment that could be used in Iran's nuclear programme.
Speaking at media briefing in Cape Town on Thursday, Foreign Affairs Chief Director of the UN Xolisa Mabhongo said South Africa did manage to make interventions in the resolution and introduced amendments which helped to address some of its concerns.
Some of the interventions included:
* The specific recognition of the latest report by the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); South Africa wanted the resolution to acknowledge an IAEA report stating that some progress had been made in Iranian cooperation with the nuclear watchdog.
* The understanding that once Iran had established the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities, there would be no discrimination against it and that it should be treated as any other member of the non-proliferation treaty.
Two other factors that played a part in swaying South Africa were:
* The call by Libya for the need to establish a Nuclear Free Zone in the Middle East which was included in the resolution.
* A call by Vietnam for recognition of International Law and civil Aviation Law which was included in resolution.
Mr Mabhongo described the resolution as an evolving one and said it had not been the same resolution that it had started out as when South Africa first opposed it.
France and Britain postponed the vote to try to gain the support of four non-permanent Security Council members, including South Africa.
However, Mr Mabhongo confirmed that South Africa was not persuaded by any of the two powers or the visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy last week had tipped South Africa into voting in favour of the resolution.
He said they listened to all sides: "We listened to the views of France, the UK, the European Union, South Africa, Libya, Indonesia and Vietnam. "
He said Iran had made great progress with its work with the IAEA and hoped that it would not retaliate after this vote by withdrawing its co-operation with the IAEA.
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D'ye see the remarks of anyone of note here on this facility? The spokesperson of any political party? Perhaps a well founded public figure who has an internaional reputation for sagacity?
We have here just pityful few who have no knowledge or regard for the consequences [in the final event]of a suicide bomber with a nuclear device.
I'll fight to the death for the freedom for all to express their opinions as and when they can but this unreasoned blather is just a waste of valuable energy which can/should be channeled to more fruitful areas.
There is only one answer to Iran and I quote: "Trust, but verify." [from the 1980's] If Iran does'nt want to co-operate voluntarily then it is their decision just as it is the decision of the UN to impose pressure to enforce compliance to ensure the safety of the region.
Israel has had nukes for at least 30 years but has never overtly/covertly threatend anyone with their use and, I think, is the only current member of the nulcear club NOT to have done so.
Thin about it, or to use the common vernacular - please engage the brain before operating tongue.
Ciao
Mashele, Perhaps this website should heed your words and make a special section for comments from the 'sagacious public figures' you refer to (would that include yourself?!), under the tile "More spin for fools to swallow".
The turn around by South Africa despite the claim that it made amendments to make the resolution on Iran justified was a disgraceful betrayal. South Africa which has experienced this same hypocrisy and thuggery from the west that Iran is now experiencing, with its own sons and daughters slaughtered and its heros called terrorist, should have done better ... The so to speak amendment by South Africa acknowledging that Iran had made "some progress" according to the IAEA, is a lie; according to the IAEA Iran made substantial progress and clarified ALL THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES which were originally used as the basis of sending Iran's file to the Security Council and the subsequent resolutions. The demands for stopping enrichment of uranium were supposed to have meant to create confidence until the outstanding issues were resolved. At the time of the third resolution, the outstanding issues WERE resolved according to the IAEA. The IAEA's comments on the "weaponisation studies" documents given to the IAEA by the US a week before the release of the report by the IAEA was that they were of doubtful credibility. This had also been the verdict of the Germans and the American themselves in the past. Iran too states that they are fabricated. They were pulled out at that late stage by the Americans to destroy the positive report of the IAEA and to push through another SC resolution on Iran. Iran had offered to accept the Additional Protocol which would have clarified any doubts regarding any nuclear programme on the condition that Iran's file was resent to the IAEA jurisdiction. South Africa, instead of distorting figleaf amendments to hide its subservience should have supported that measure. This is not just a sad day for the people of Iran who will be suffering the result of sanctions and are closer to war, this is also and indeed a very sad day for South Africa in betraying its own legacy of struggle against racism and oppression.
Exceptional Commentary! At least we have the internet to defend our quest for truth...
The turn around by South Africa despite the claim that it made amendments to make the resolution on Iran justified was a disgraceful betrayal. South Africa which has experienced this same hypocrisy and thuggery from the west that Iran is now experiencing, with its own sons and daughters slaughtered and its heros called terrorist, should have done better ... The so to speak amendment by South Africa acknowledging that Iran had made "some progress" according to the IAEA, is a lie; according to the IAEA Iran made substantial progress and clarified ALL THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES which were originally used as the basis of sending Iran's file to the Security Council and the subsequent resolutions. The demands for stopping enrichment of uranium were supposed to have meant to create confidence until the outstanding issues were resolved. At the time of the third resolution, the outstanding issues WERE resolved according to the IAEA. The only issue of contention was the "weaponisation studies" given to the IAEA a week before its report came out, not only Iran says they are fabricated but the IAEA itself has described them of doubtful credibility. South Africa caved in to racist imperialist thuggery and thus betrayed its history by this vote ... This is a sad day indeed.
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