On
Iran
Sanctions, As Turkey and Brazil "Vent," Vote
Approaches, Choreography Finalized
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
June 8 -- Iran sanctions are slated to be voted on in the UN
Security Council as early as June 9, but Turkey and Brazil have
requested first the consideration of their nuclear deal with Tehran,
which they say has not been considered. Turkey's Ambassador to the
UN, emerging from the Council chamber late on June 7 told the Press
that Iran, too, should be heard from before any sanctions vote.
"Let
them
vent," a Western diplomat told Inner City Press, predicting the
vote will proceed on June 9. Another Western Council member's
spokesman said all the remained to be decided was the "choreography."
He predicted that the resolution's annexes would imminently be
finalized and "go blue," starting the 24 hour clock to a
possible vote.
But
on June 8 from
Tehran came the statement that the imposition of new sanctions will
stop any negotiations. Analysts say that the sanctions proponents
expected this. Their goal, the BBC propagated Tuesday morning, is to
harm Iran's economy and undermine the regime of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Ahmadinejad in the GA, Security Council choreography
not shown
Some
wonder at the
different approach taken to North Korea, which actually developed
crude nuclear weapons, and according to South Korea sank its ship the
Cheonan, killing 46 sailors aboard. Sanctions are not being sought
against the regime of Kim Jong-Il, on the theory that it would only
lead to worse and more bellicose behavior.
So
just as banks
sue small debtors but cater to those owing $100 million dollars, the
Security Council sanctions those who still negotiate while running
scared of the real outlaw states. What message does it send?
Inner
City Press
will be covering the June 8 Security Council action in real time,
stay tuned.
Update
of
1:44 p.m. -- Emerging from the morning's UNSC consultations, US
Ambassador Susan Rice said a "strong" resolution will be
passed tomorrow. She did not respond when asked if non affirmative
votes, presumably by Turkey, Brazil and perhaps Lebanon, would weaken
the resolution. Sources say that the annexes contain, along with
organizations, a lone individual, whose name is not yet known.
There
will be a
"closed" debate, with non Council members, at 3 p.m., and for now a
vote on
the resolution at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Watch this site.
Update
of
4:49 p.m. -- the closed debate is over. Susan Rice took two
questions, on whether the sanctions are binding. She called the
financial aspects of the resolution "groundbreaking." But
would they bar, for example, Chinese investment in Iran's energy
industry?
More
informative
was a self-described "Turkish diplomat," who said Turkey
had been frustrated by how its and Brazil's deal with Tehran was
treated by the Council. He was asked if the US is asking Turkey to
abstain rather than vote no. This is diplomacy, he said. But could
there be a trade off involving the US's position on the investigation
of Israel's assault on the flotilla to Gaza?
The
Turkish
diplomat said that when they voted for the flotilla resolution, it
was there understanding it had to be a UN-led investigation, on the
theory that no investigation by Israel -- "a party" --
could be impartial. The US' Alejandro Wolff that night said the US
thought Israel would take the lead.
Could
Turkey's
position on Iran sanction switch from opposition to abstention in
exchange for US support for a UN-lead flotilla investigation?
* * *
UN
Council
Considers Iran Debate Before Wednesday Vote, Deliberate on
Cheonan Ship
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
June 7, updated -- With the push on for the Security Council to adopt
nuclear sanctions against Iran, Turkey and Brazil on Monday convened
consultations to ask for a formal debate before the sanctions vote.
Inner City Press asked if the request was for non-Council members,
like Syria for example, to be able to speak. We'll tell you when we
come out, more than one entrant said.
One
of these
entrants came out at 5 p.m. and predicted to the Press that the Iran
sanctions vote will be Wednesday. While Hillary Clinton is slated to
speak about Iran with her Brazilian counterpart at the Organization
of American States meeting in Peru, the proponents of the sanctions
seemed resigned to non affirmative votes by Turkey, Brazil and
perhaps Lebanon.
Later
it was
announced that the Council will hold more consultations on Iran, this
time on the resolution itself, on the morning of June 8. The
resolution text is "in blue" but the annexes are not. While
on the previous North Korea nuclear resolution, the annexes were left
for the Sanctions Committee to do, that requires consensus which
would be blocked in this instance by... Turkey, Brazil and perhaps
Lebanon.
Susan Rice
emerged at 5:34 p.m., wouldn't confirm a Wednesday vote -- whatever
everyone else wants, she said genially -- and ended with "this week."
US' Susan Rice and Alex Wolff, UK's Lyall Grant,
annexes not shown
The
US was
represented for once by its two top diplomats, Susan Rice and
Alejandro Wolff. Unlike all other Ambassadors they arrived with a
security presence. Reporters lounged around in their designated pen,
where they'd convened in the morning for a meeting on North Korea.
On
the sinking of
the Cheonan ship, there's a request for another meeting. A
self-described Western diplomat said that the Security Council will
deal with the issue as deliberately as the "multinational"
/ South Korean investigators did. We will continue to live blog what's
left of these
consultations: watch this space.
Update
of 5:50 p.m. -- Council President Heller emerged, declined to go on
camera, said that Tuesday a political discussion but definitely a
vote "this week."
Update
of
5:50 p.m. -- Council President Heller emerged, declined to go on
camera, said that Tuesday a political discussion but definitely a
vote "this week."
Update
of
6:27 p.m. -- Brazil's Ambassador came out. We want to have a
political debate, she said. Tomorrow will be a "stage" in
this process. Oh, the theatrics. Why do you want a debate, a reporter
shouted out. Because so far it has been all technical. We do not want
to debate just the resolution, but the wider context. Wednesday vote?
She walked up the stairs.
Update
of
6:44 p.m. -- Turkey's Ambassador came out, and at least stopped to
speak with the Press. It is all under discussion, though, is what he
said, it would not be appropriate to comment. Inner City Press
switched gears and asked for Turkey's view on the flotilla
investigation proposed by Ban Ki-moon. My understanding is the
Secretary General is proceeding, he said. And then he was gone, the
stakeout and this interim story over. 10-4
* * *
, 
