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| UNSC members approve text condemning N. Korea, vote scheduled Mon. | ||
| 2009-04-12 | ||
| UN Security Council's five permanent members approved a presidential draft statement condemning North Korea's recent rocket launch, but its approval by the full council is scheduled for Monday afternoon, the council president Claude Heller of Mexico told reporters following a council informal meeting on Saturday. The P5 - US, UK, France, China and Russia - along with Japan, which feels "most threatened" by such launch, met earlier in the day and approved the draft text. No agreement was reached on a draft resolution because of Chinese and Russian opposition. While a council resolution is binding, a statement read out by the council president in an open meeting or to the press outside the council chamber are not ending. Japanese UN envoy Yukio Takasu admitted that his delegation had no choice but to accept the draft presidential statement and not not push for a draft resoslution because "equally important is unity of the council," adding that he is "grateful" to the Chinese delegation for showing flexibility in accepting this "strong message (statement)." The council would condemn in the draft statement when it meets next Monday North Korea's launch last Sunday of a rocket "in contravention" of council resolution 1718, reminding the country that it "must fully comply with its obligations" under that resolution and demanding that it no longer conduct any launch. The draft also threatens North Korea to "adjust" the sanctions already imposed on Pyongyang in 2006 by designating more entities and goods for sanctions by April 30.
US UN envoy Susan Rice told reporters following the informal meeting that the draft statement she presented to the other council's 10 non permanent members for consideration sends a "clear message" to North Korea that its launch of the rocket will not be treated "with impunity and will have consequences." She added that the whole council supported the draft but have to get back to their capitals, expressing hope that they will send the same message to Pyongyang when the council meets on Monday for "swift action." Heller also described the draft statement as an "excellent basis" for consensus and contains "good elements" and sends a "clear and strong message," insisting that it is "important that the council acts in a "unified manner."
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| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #1 This is change I can believe in! |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2009-04-12 06:51 |