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RI supports new Council resolution on Iran
The Jakarta Post | Sun, 09/28/2008 11:33 AM | Headlines
Indonesia supports a new United Nations Security Council resolution that affirms previous sanctions imposed on Iran for its refusal to halt its uranium enrichment program.
Indonesia, which had chosen to abstain from voting on previous resolutions, changed its stance, citing that it was confident the resolution would utilize negotiation and dialog with the Iranian government to solve the dispute.
"At a glance, the design of the resolution poses no problem, but we see a danger if the resolution does not mention settlement through dialog and negotiation," said Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda, as quoted by Antara news agency.
The minister said such a resolution would provide legal backing for countries to take violent measures against Iran over the nuclear issue.
The vote Saturday followed a compromise between the United States and Russia to lead a new council effort to condemn Iran's nuclear program without the introduction of new sanctions.
The brief resolution reaffirmed the three earlier Security Council sanctions resolutions, which imposed progressively tougher sanctions on Iran.
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the new resolution reiterated that the dispute with Iran should be solved through diplomacy. Earlier resolutions, he said as quoted by The Associated Press, were carefully crafted to "avoid any military action to solve the problem."
Existing sanctions freeze the assets of 65 companies and individuals linked to Iran's nuclear program, and impose a travel ban on five people associated with Tehran's nuclear and ballistic
missile programs.
The sanctions also ban Iranian arms exports and the supplies of materials and technology to Iran that could contribute to its nuclear and missile programs, as well as forbidding the country from trading civilian goods that could be used to manufacture weapons.
The latest resolution is slated to take a "dual-track approach", meaning it will offer Iran incentives for developing alternative energy, while also threatening the country with sanctions should it pursue its nuclear ambitions.
The document also calls on Tehran "to comply fully and without delay, with its obligations" and meet requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The incentives package put forth by the European Union in 2006 promised Iran political and economic assistance, including a pledge to help it fight drug trafficking from Afghanistan. (dre)
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A (not verified) — Sun, 09/28/2008 - 4:21pm
the first Indonesian foreign policy regarding Iran nuclear issue was colored by the dispute between executive and legislative. The dispute was vividly seen when president was declined to comply on legislative'demand to summon president to explain his policy. This recent policy to Iran hopefully deliberated by all decision makers on executive and legislative and other related departments. Despite Indonesia is considered as developing country and rather difficult denying its dependancy towards US, but domestically all political actors must resolve the dispute in any matters regarding state's foreign policy. As a developing country which has been hit with economic crisis, harmonious relationship between executive and legislative can contribute to the enhancement of state's image internationally.