Media Centre, 120 Plein Street, Cape Town
28 February 2007
Africa
We continue to be happy with the consolidation of multi-party democracy in
Africa. Last week I briefed you on the Lesotho elections.
Senegalese elections
As you know, Senegal held its Presidential elections on Sunday, 25 February
2007, amid a tense atmosphere but without any violence. This atmosphere was
partly due to the fact that a sizeable number of voters were said not to have
received their voting cards in time to be able to cast their vote.
While the counting is said to have not yet been completed, preliminary
results are indicating that, President Wade is currently winning the first
round by approximately 55%.
The results are expected to be announced on Thursday or Friday this week
after they have been verified by the Constitutional Court of Senegal.
Somalia
The situation in Somalia continues to remain tense and volatile.
On 21 February 2007 a district commissioner in north Mogadishu was killed by
unknown assailants. Other recent attacks include mortar attacks on the
Mogadishu International Airport (22 February 2007) and a car bomb explosion on
18 February 2007. Mortar attacks on Ethiopian troops based in the Digir
Hospital are also becoming more common while on 21 February 2007 insurgents
warned the African Union (AU) that should peacekeeping troops arrive in Somalia
they would become the focus of attack. A new group called the "Popular
Resistance Movement in the Land of the Two Migrations" or "Muqaawama" has
claimed responsibility for other attacks aimed at Somali government buildings
and Ethiopian troops. The group demands the immediate withdrawal of Ethiopian
troops.
Civil society organisations in Somalia have appealed to the international
community to help at least 2 000 families displaced over the past two weeks by
violence in the capital, Mogadishu.
"We are appealing to the international community, particularly to the United
Nations, to come to the aid of these people," Muhammad Nur Ga'al, the deputy
head of the coalition known as Civil Society in Action, said on Wednesday, 21
February 2007 from Mogadishu. "Their situation is dire and if things don't
improve quickly it will get worse."
The families, representing an estimated 12 000 people, fled their homes to
escape continued heavy weapon exchanges between Ethiopian-backed government
troops and unknown gunmen.
On 20 February 2007 the United Nations (UN) unanimously adopted Resolution
1744, which authorised the deployment of the African Union Mission in Somalia
(AMISOM) force into Somalia. This Resolution falls under Chapter VII of the UN
Charter, which allows for enforcement measures. The role of AMISOM, will be to
support dialogue and reconciliation in Somalia. The United Nations Security
Council (UNSC) stressed the need for broad-based and representative
institutions reached through all inclusive political processes in Somalia, as
envisaged in the Transitional Federal Charter in order to consolidate
stability, peace and reconciliation in the country and ensure that
international assistance is effective as possible.
South Africa will continue to support the national reconciliation process in
Somalia and is willing to assist the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to
ensure that the national reconciliation process is all inclusive, incorporating
all relevant role-players including civil society, clan elders, the Union of
Islamic Courts (UIC) and the warlords.
Sudan
On 12 February 2007, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) concluded
its five-day National Council Meeting in Yei, Central Equatorial. The National
Council Meeting deliberations focused on issues such as:
* transformation of the SPLM from a liberation movement to a political
party
* relationship between the SPLM and the National Congress Party (NCP)
* implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)
* Darfur situation; the National Council Meeting expressed concern for the
non-implementation of key aspects in the CPA such as the Abyei Protocol and the
withdrawal of the NCP backed militia from Southern Sudan.
The establishment of an independent commission to investigate corruption in
the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS). The commission will focus on the
awarding of government tenders since 2005.
The SPLM announced the relocation of its Headquarters to Khartoum. This move
will allow the SPLM to play an active part in the Sudan national politics.
On 20 February 2007, First Vice President Salva Kiir issued a number of
decrees for the formation of different committees in line with the
recommendations of the National Council meeting.
These committees include:
* The committee led by Dr Lual Dend which will be responsible for following
up on oil revenues and monies transferred to the GOSS during the last period
and this committee will report to the President within a month.
* The committee led by Pagan Amum will be responsible for resource development
and administration.
* The committee led by Dr Mansour Khalid shall investigate oil contracts and
environmental and social effect.
* The committee formed for Upper Nile state to investigate on complaints from
citizens of the state against Dr Lam Akol. All committees are expected to
report back within one month.
Darfur Situation
Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon voiced concern about the situation in Darfur,
decrying the "massive human sufferings" in the region, where at least 200 000
people have been killed and 2 million others displaced from their homes since
2003.
There has not been any real movement on the Hybrid force. However, on 16
February 2007, President Al Bashir said the UN should provide logistical and
technical support to the AU instead of troops. He believes that the notion of a
'hybrid' UN/AU force meant that the AU would provide troops and the UN would
provide the logistical back-up.
In this context the Secretary-General of the United Nations said that:
"There are two tracks that are still going on, even though we have not yet
finally agreed. One is the political process; a political dialogue process is
going on at the highest level, including myself. And secondly, peacekeeping
operation level is now being discussed. The United Nations will soon engage in
detailed negotiations with African Union representatives and I'm also going to
meet with the African Union Commissioner. And I have been constantly involved
in this process. We have also been trying to resolve this issue of humanitarian
assistance problems. There are still many people who are suffering because of
the inaccessibility of the humanitarian community. I have strongly urged the
Sudanese Government to allow this humanitarian assistance to be resumed."
Following the deployment of UN forces, President Bush has approved plans for
wide-ranging financial and other sanctions against the Sudan if Khartoum does
not allow the deployment of UN Peacekeepers in Darfur. The sanctions package is
part of a three-tiered Plan B. Under the Plan, the US Treasury will block US
commercial bank transactions connected to the Sudan Government, including those
of oil revenues.
Britain's minister for Africa Lord David Triesman, speaking at the UN on
Wednesday, 21 February 2007, warned Sudan that it faces more sanctions unless
it keeps agreements to promote peace in the war-torn region of Darfur and
accused Omar al-Bashir, the Sudanese president of seeking a military solution
to the conflict.
Sudan, he said, "has not observed the ceasefire, has committed military
forces to try to achieve military solutions, has not disarmed any of the
(pro-government) janjaweed (militia), and has not really engaged in a political
process as contrasted with a military process."
The result, he said, was that conditions on the ground are getting worse and
worse, while humanitarian organisations are finding it more difficult to get
aid "to destitute, starving, dying people."
The AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) has taken a decision to dispatch a
mission to Chad, the Central African Republic (CAR) and the Sudan to undertake
a comprehensive assessment of the situation on the ground and identify the
obstacles impeding the implementation of agreements signed by Chad and Sudan.
As you know an agreement was signed by Sudan and its neighbours on the fringes
of the Franco-Africa Summit in Cannes, France but this seems to have not been
implemented.
On 20 February 2007,the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon recommended the
deployment of peacekeeping operations of 11 000 personnel for Chad and the
Central African Republic to stop the spill-over of conflict from the Sudan to
its neighbouring state, Chad and the Central African Republic.
International Criminal Court naming of two people
The International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor named a Sudanese
minister and a militia commander on Tuesday as the first suspects he wants
tried for war crimes in Darfur and suggested more could follow.
Chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo asked pre-trial judges to issue
summonses for Ahmed Haroun, state interior minister during the height of the
Darfur conflict, and militia commander Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-al-Rahman, also
known as Ali Kushayb.
"Our work sends a signal: those who commit atrocities cannot do so without
impunity," he told a news conference.
Haroun is currently Sudan's state humanitarian affairs minister.
Khartoum said the ICC had no jurisdiction to try any Sudanese suspects,
either rebels or from the government side.
"All the evidence the prosecutor referred to is lies given to him by people
who bear arms against the state, bear arms against citizens and kill innocent
citizens in Darfur," Justice Minister Mohamed Ali al-Mardi said in
Khartoum.
Clearly the naming of these individuals and others adds a new dimension to
attempts to find a solution to the crisis in Darfur.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Processes in the DRC continue to be consolidated.
Political
Prime Minister Antoine Gizenga received overwhelming parliamentary support /
voted for his government programme, titled "New Foundation," inclusive of the
Cabinet Ministers being instituted in their various portfolios, on 24 February
2007.
Of the 397 parliamentarians present (total of 500), 295 voted in favour of
the new government programme, while 94 voted against, with eight abstentions.
The programme's main focus is on boosting development through new measures to
increase security and justice and to fight corruption and poverty.
Prime Minister Gizenga indicated that his government would follow an
open-market approach, including privatisation, to ensure progress on the five
priorities named by President Joseph Kabila, namely: infrastructure,
employment, education, water and electricity, and health. The government is
counting on 14,35 billion dollars over five years to finance the ambitious
programme. More than half would come from international financial backers.
South Africa will continue, through the Security Council and interaction
with other international partners to encourage the necessary support for the
consolidation of post-conflict democracy.
The opposition Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC) leader Jean-Pierre Bemba,
criticised the programme as just a "string of good intentions." Francois
Muamba, MLC deputy leader, said the government appeared to consider foreign
financing a given, "something that is not the case," and chastised Prime
Minister Gizenga for not aiming high enough with his target of eight percent
economic growth.
Prime Minister Gizenga responded by insisting that he would soon "engage in
negotiations" with the International Monetary Fund in order to re-establish the
required conditions needed to access budgetary aid, which was halted last year
after the country apparently failed to control public spending.
According to the UN the DRC parliament also indicated that it had created a
commission to probe the post-electoral bloodshed that erupted following a
governorship election in the western province of Bas-Congo last month, killing
134 people.
Security
A court martial in Bunia (Ituri region in the Orientale Province in
North-Eastern Congo) sentenced 13 soldiers to life imprisonment on conviction
of war crimes over a massacre in the Ituri region, a military prosecutor
announced on 20 February 2007. The military court in Bunia, the main town in
the strife-prone north-eastern part of the vast country, on 20 February 2007
handed down its verdicts on 15 soldiers of the army's first brigade who were
charged during December 2006 with war crimes, murder, breaking orders and
culpable absence from duty. The Ituri defence force court also handed down life
jail sentences to four former members of an Ituri militia, the Nationalist and
Integrationalist Front (FNI), for the 2003 murder of two UN military observers.
Among the 13 soldiers jailed for life, four were sentenced in absentia, and the
court gave their army captain a suspended six-month jail term for culpable
absence from duty and acquitted a lieutenant, the Bunia prosecutor added. The
convicted men were also ordered to pay $315 000 in damages to the victims'
families "in solidarity with the Congolese state." In such trials the court
typically orders the state to pay damages and interest when the convicts
patently cannot afford to do so. The soldiers were sought in connection with a
civilian massacre at Bavi, about 40 kilometres south of Bunia, after the
discovery of three graves containing up to 30 people discovered in November
2006. A team from the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of
Congo (MONUC) joined authorities in a probe after being alerted by local and
international human rights groups in the area, and located the graves thanks to
a tip-off from a soldier. Witness accounts said government forces "abducted the
civilians and then forced them to work in local gold mines, to harvest and
gather food products, or to transport goods."
Clashes broke out between the army and Rwandan and Congolese militias in
North Kivu province (eastern Congo which borders the frontiers with Rwanda and
at least 23 combatants have been reported killed and caused thousands to flee,
the army and UN officials announced on 21 February 2007. Rwandan and Congolese
fighters were trying to stop Congo's national army from being deployed in the
area. Rwandan Hutu militia have operated in eastern Congo since fleeing Rwanda
in 1994.
We do believe that the Security Council must deal with these remaining Hutu
militia if we are to maintain peace and stability in this area. Their remaining
active in the area is a matter of concern for us.
From the provincial Kivu North capital, Goma, a UN official, Andrew Zadel,
indicated that 8 620 displaced people had fled to the nearby village of
Nyanzale and 14 000 others were receiving aid from the Red Cross at Kikuku. But
it was unclear how many in Nyanzale had fled the latest clashes and how many
were simply in need of aid.
Burundi
Signing of a General Co-operation Agreement
On 14 February 2007, South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini
Zuma signed a General Co-operation Agreement at the Africa-France Heads of
State and Government Summit in the French coastal city of Cannes with her
Burundian counterpart Antoinette Batumubwira, Minister of External Co-operation
and International Relations.
The signing of the General Co-operation Agreement has the potential to
unlock possibilities for both countries in the area of nation-building,
economic development and in further strengthening the already good
relations.
New National Council for the Defence of Democracy-Forces for the Defence of
Democracy (CNDD-FDD) leadership structure
The CNDD-FDD altered its structure at the congress, with the party being run
by a five-member Executive Committee, dealing primarily with administrative
issues. An umbrella structure, consisting of six members and known as the
'Council of the Wise' will be chaired by President Nkurunziza.
Deployment of 1 100 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops to
Burundi
Cabinet has approved the deployment of 1 100 South African soldiers to
Burundi as part of an African Union special task force. This was at the request
of the AU and as part of South Africa's commitment to contribute to
socio-economic and political stability on the continent. This deployment will
contribute to peace and stability in Burundi and ensure that the progress
towards peace in that country is not reversed. This is basically increasing our
involvement in Burundi and the view is that because we've worked in Burundi and
made so much progress, it's absolutely vital that in areas where we're already
involved, it's important for us to make sure that we consolidate the gains we
have made there and make sure that we don't revert.
Peace process
The leadership of the Paliphehutu-FNL is now in Bujumbura where they are
participating in the Joint Verification Mechanism (JVM) chaired by South
Africa, the mechanism created for the purpose of implementing the ceasefire
agreed to by both parties.
The JVM is in the process of creating joint liaison teams that will deal
with various aspects of the ceasefire. The joint liaison teams that have been
prioritised are:
* the team dealing with the release of all political prisoners
* the team to deal with the establishment of assembly points where all
combatants of the FNL will be assembled for the purposes of their disarmament,
demobilisation and reintegration.
The importance of this phase in the peace process is that armed struggle and
conflict has now ended and any new issues will be dealt with through
negotiation with all parties by the countries of the region and the
Facilitator.
Cote d'Ivoire
In an endeavour to resolve the political impasse in Cote d'Ivoire President
Gbagbo addressed the nation on 19 December 2006, during which he announced a
Five Point Plan. The Plan seeks to address the following issues: national
dialogue with the rebels, acceleration of the disarmament and the reunification
of the country; the cancellation of the confidence zone; creation of a National
Civic Service; and the establishment of an aid programme for the return of the
displaced war victims.
At an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Summit in
Ouagadougou on 19 January 2007, the leaders welcomed the initiative by
President Gbagbo for dialogue with New Forces leader Guillaume Sorro and called
upon the Chairman of ECOWAS to facilitate the dialogue to give momentum to the
peace process. As a result President Compaore of Burkina Faso, in his capacity
as the new Chair of ECOWAS invited all the Ivorian political formations to
preliminary talks held on 5 February 2007 in Ouagadougou. The Ouagadougou talks
focused on: disarmament; the redeployment of the administration; the
identification and; the organisation of elections.
In its Summit held in Addis Ababa from 29-30 January 2007, the African Union
urged the Ivorian parties to redouble efforts to bring the peace process to its
logical conclusion on the basis of resolution 1721, adopted by the United
Nations Security Council on 1 November 2006, through direct dialogue as
proposed by President Laurent Gbagbo and supported by ECOWAS and the African
Union.
The Security Council issued a media statement welcoming the new initiative.
The statement said that that the initiative should lead to the implementation
of the roadmap as outlined in Resolution 1721 (2006). In addition the Security
Council also supported the recommendation by ECOWAS and the International
Working Group (IWG) that the Security Council pays a visit to Cote
d'Ivoire.
On 10 January 2007, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1739
extending the mandate of United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI)
until 30 June 2007.
We are generally happy regarding the positive developments in Africa but
remain concerned regarding the possibility of regression.
Iran: Nuclear Non-Proliferation
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in Germany on Wednesday, 21 February 2007,
on the fringes of the Quartet meeting said:
"The Iranian nuclear issue is another very serious concern to the
international community. As the Secretary-General of the UN, I also have been
trying to be a help in resolving this issue as much as I can. The international
community was reasonably encouraged by the recent agreement on the North Korean
nuclear issue through the Six-Party Process. We must address this issue as soon
as possible. I urged the Iranian Foreign Minister to continue to resolve this
issue through negotiations with the international community, particularly led
by the European Union."
It is in this context that Mr Larijani, the Chief Iranian Nuclear Negotiator
who had been visiting Europe and participated in the a major Security
Conference in Munich, visited South Africa at the weekend and held discussions
with President Thabo Mbeki on Sunday, 25 February 2007.
These discussions took place within the framework of our ongoing discussions
with Iran as members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of
Governors.
Report by the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency on
the Implementation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement
and Resolution 1737 (2006) By Iran
The main findings are that, pursuant to its NPT safeguards agreement, Iran
has been providing the IAEA with access to declared nuclear material and
facilities and has provided the required nuclear material accountancy reports.
The IAEA is therefore able to verify that Iran has not diverted declared
nuclear material.
The IAEA finds that Iran's declaration on the inventory of nuclear material
at its Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant is consistent with the results of the IAEA's
evaluation.
However, no progress with regard to efforts to verify fully past development
of Iran's nuclear programme. As a result, the IAEA is unable to verify the
absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities or to provide assurances
about the exclusively peaceful nature of that programme.
Iran has not suspended enrichment related activities as required by the
Security Council.
Maximum enrichment level of 4,2% of Uranium-235.
Iran has provided IAEA inspectors access, but has declined to agree to
remote monitoring, pending clarification from the IAEA on the legal basis for
this request and examples of where such monitoring has been applied to other
countries.
Iran has not yet ratified the Additional Protocol.
No further developments with regard to the issue of finding the source of
the lowly enriched uranium (LEU) and highly enriched uranium (HEU) particles
found at Iranian sites.
Iran has made no new information available to the IAEA concerning its P-1
and P-2 centrifuge programmes.
Iran has not provided the IAEA with a copy of a 15 page document describing
the procedures for the reduction of UF6 to uranium metal and the casting and
machining of enriched and depleted uranium metal into hemispheres. However,
this document remains under IAEA seal.
Iran has not agreed to any of the required transparency measures, which the
IAEA regards as essential for clarification of certain aspects of the scope and
nature of its nuclear programme.
Comments by Iranian Chief Nuclear Negotiator, Mr Larijani
The 43rd Munich Conference on Security Policy and similar initiatives
launched for the same purpose reveal the fact that this fact - changing global
developments - have drastically transformed the international and regional
security realities which necessitate a review and redefinition of the previous
analytical and management tools.
It is vitally important for all of us to find a way out of this dilemma by
creating the required analytical and management capabilities. And any delay in
this regard can potentially culminate in the eruption of new crises. And any
miscalculated efforts for the settlement of the key issues can prepare the
ground for a new spate of confrontations.
The primary purpose of any unilateral, bilateral or multilateral security
strategy, alliance or pact is the establishment of order: an order which is
aimed at settling the convergent or divergent interests, values and ideologies
in the system of international relations. Any world security order can be
viable and sustainable only if it meets the material and moral interests of
individuals and societies which include justice, freedom, well-being and
respect for their identities. An order which fails to meet the aforementioned
interests for individuals, groups and states is an arbitrary order which is
doomed to break down due to the injustices that it is bound to bring in its
wake.
A sustainable order cannot entail anything other than inclusive aims.
A sustainable security order rejects the attainment of the interests of one
side through intimidation, coercion, and violence at the expense of others. An
international and regional security order can be sustainable only if it is
underpinned by understanding and concord.
In the security order prevailing in the Cold War era the two superpowers
were engaged in colonising the smaller states and paid little attention to the
underpinnings of a sustainable order that is respect for identity of societies,
sustainable development, justice and democracy. This situation led the Iranian
people to launch a great revolution to change the status quo in 1979.
The United States not only failed to put pressure on this regime for its
inhuman behaviour and human rights abuses but it also supported it as a
Gendarme for the region to control other small regional states and a military
coup was launched against the government of Mossaddegh.
However, peace cannot be equated with stability, because it connotes and
entails more than that. Our world has lost peace at the expense of stability
for sacrificing freedom and justice. Disrespect for the main ingredients of a
sustainable security order has laid the breeding grounds for suspicion,
hostility and ultimately confrontation with colonialism. After the collapse of
the Soviet Union, unilateral security order prevailed. Unilateralism
essentially nurtures militarism. The only superpower has ties the issues of
development, democracy or human rights in other countries to their submission
to its unilaterist policy and adopted a war-like attitude towards countries
which tried to guard their independence.
After the victory of the Islamic Republic, Iran has seen almost one general
election each year. Do you know of any other state in our region which has been
so much dedicated to democracy as Iran? The US administration's policy was
denial, isolation and sanctions. This policy has resulted in nothing other than
further stiffening the resolve of the Iranian people.
The pursuit of this one-dimensional policy in other regional states has
given rise to opposing movement. Nixon in his book 'Victory without War'
states: "In the West we speak of the fundamentalists, while fundamentalists
speak of the problems of peoples. It is quite natural that they listen to
them."
The policy of monopolisation of international security cannot ensure a
sustainable order and peace. Sustainable security requires mutual understanding
and close attention to the main ingredients of security.
Mutual understanding is ties to constructive diplomacy and constructive
diplomacy requires a common will and common will entails shared
opportunities.
If common paradigms are created between big powers and regional powers, the
sustainability of international order and peace can be hoped to be sustainable.
What common paradigms can be found in these two areas.
1. Democracy: democracy is a principle which should underpin any common
approach in the future. An order cannot be meaningful and sustainable without
democracy. Sometimes one hears that some regional states lack cultural and
political development for democracy. This is more of an irresponsible
justification than a reality. Because democracy cannot be exported in the form
of a package to a region. Wherever the process of democratisation starts it has
to be experienced and practice and, of course, not without difficulties.
Without democracy, real order and peace will be impossible.
2. Respect for other cultures: the view which believes that there should be
a single individual and social lifestyle clearly lacks the intelligence to
appreciate the cultural and sociological significance of other societies.
Respect for the cultures, customs and traditions of other nations are
indispensable for peaceful co-existence and mutual understanding.
There is security in most of Iraq and only a limited part of that country is
suffering from insecurity. These secure regions have two characteristics: first
they border on Iran. As you know, Iran has one of the longest common borders
with Iraq which amounts to 1 350 kilometres and all the Iraqi provinces which
are close to the Iranian borders enjoy security. Second, the American troops
are not present in those provinces.
3. Iran has played a unique role in the fight against drug trafficking in
the region and has suffered immense human and material losses. All the efforts
have been surprisingly played down or ignored in Afghanistan. The US continues
to regard Iran as part of the axis of evil despite the role it has played. Iran
believes in rationality and constructive interaction in International Relations
but never ignores its independence.
4. Two years of negotiation and suspension of all nuclear activities
resulted in a plan in which nothing was clear and which Dr ElBaradei and other
Europeans said was an inappropriate plan. During the last year, pressure was
imposed on Iran: either we stopped nuclear activities or we would be referred
to the Security Council and other threats. Even after long negotiations with Mr
Solana, Iran's case was referred to the Security Council.
Iran's nuclear case in a general view:
* It is related to the past.
* It is related to the present.
* It is related to future conditions.
What is related to the past if there are any questions Iran is committed to
answer them, and we sent a letter to the IAEA and announced that we are ready
to work out a modality on the condition that Iran's case returns to the IAEA.
In other words we have commitments in this part.
Regarding what is related to the present, not only nuclear activities of
Iran are under the supervision of the IAEA and their inspections are going on,
but also Dr ElBaradei and the Europeans know that the current situation of Iran
is continuing with the supervision of the IAEA and is in the framework of NPT
and safeguards.
The main concerns of those who talk with me is related to the future. Some
of them frankly said that they could not accept that even Iran reaches to
peaceful nuclear knowledge, because they were concerned about future
wrongdoings.
These comments are surprising. These kinds of justification cannot be found
in international laws, that before crimes have been committed, some are already
looking for punishment. But at the same time, in response to the incentive
package and also in our negotiations with Mr Solana we said that we are ready
to have all of our nuclear activities in a consortium so that others can
participate in our activities and as a result we build confidence. Despite the
fact that according to the international arrangements we are not obliged to do
so, but to prove our good intention we are ready to do so. What is wrong with
this logic? Does the attitude of the other side not create suspicion that
either we should act like Israel and have the atomic bomb and not accept NPT,
or if we act in the framework of IAEA and NPT they are not going to consider
rights for us?
Repeatedly we announced frankly that in Iran's National Security Doctrine,
there is no room for atomic and chemical weapons and we consider them against
the Islamic laws. The Supreme Leader of Iran in this connection released a
decree that weapons of mass destruction are prohibited religiously. Besides, we
know that Iran's action in this way will trigger an atomic arms race in the
region which as a result will endanger the peace and stability of the region
and the world. Therefore, we support the idea of a Middle East free from
weapons of mass destruction.
But the irrational preconditions such as suspension of uranium enrichment
set for the resumption of negotiations are standing practically as an obstacle
in the way of the settlement of this issue. Now, it has been almost eight
months that such preconditions have inhibited the settlement of this issue. Now
the question arises that if three out of these eight months have been spent on
negotiations what possible damages could have occurred? And now that this has
happened, what achievement has been made? An answer to this question, one may
say that a resolution has been issued against Iran and this country has been
brought under pressure. Was the original intention of this process anything
other than finding a solution to this problem? So, one can see that this
misguided approach has not solved the problem and has been originally launched
with some other motives.
This is a public response by the Iranians on how they see a negotiated
solution to this issue. As you can see, they are insisting that the matter
revert to the IAEA and that there should be no pre-conditions and all matters
should be discussed openly and transparently.
Iran's response to IAEA Report
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted by Iran's student news agency ISNA as saying:
"Iran has obtained the technology to produce nuclear fuel and Iran's move is
like a train ... which has no brake and no reverse gear."
"We dismantled the rear gear and brakes of the train and threw them away
sometime ago."
Manouchehr Mohammadi, one of the deputies to the foreign minister, was
quoted by Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) as saying at a conference in the
central city of Isfahan: "We have prepared ourselves for any situation, even
for war."
Iranian Envoy to IAEA
Iran's envoy to International Atomic Energy Agency Ali-Asghar Soltanieh said
on Thursday that Iran's continued nuclear activity is not a strange issue since
it is done according to a schedule already reported to the UN atomic
agency.
He told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) here that all enrichment
activities of Iran are viewed by cameras and supervised by nuclear
inspectors.
Soltanieh underlined the fact that only 24 countries in the world have been
known by the agency as not involved in nuclear issue while majority of them
including Vatican do not work in this field. He added that the industrialised
countries in Europe and also US have not been among these countries.
He remarked that the claims about undeclared Iranian nuclear substances and
related activities in no way show lack of Iran's co-operation, because, as the
agency has said, it is a long process which in Japan's case lasted thirty
years.
Soltanieh said ElBaradei's report serves as another document which refutes
the claims of those who, with no rhyme or reason, accuse Iran of doing
unpeaceful activities.
He said the report asserts that the agency has verified lack of any
diversion of Iranian nuclear activities and that all produced substances are
under the agency's supervision.
Soltanieh also said that the UN nuclear watchdog chief's report shows that
the results of measuring ambient samples in Natanz conform fully with Iran's
related statements and confirms Iran's reports on less that 5 percent level of
uranium enrichment.
Iran's envoy to IAEA said that El-Baradei's report precisely echoes Iran's
full readiness to resolve the few remaining issues out of the Security Council
and within the agency's assignments.
International reactions
Permanent 5 + Germany
The P5 + Germany held a meeting in London on Monday, 26 February 2007 to
discuss fresh sanctions against Iran following an IAEA report presented to the
Security Council on Thursday, 22 February 2007. Another meeting is scheduled
for Thursday, 1 March 2007.
Nicholas Burns, the US undersecretary of state, said he hoped the meeting
would quickly produce a draft resolution to "see Iran repudiated again". He
said it was too soon to say what provisions the resolution might contain.
Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, said that what Iran needed was
not a reverse gear, but a stop button. She also pledged direct talks with
Iranian officials if Tehran halts its nuclear enrichment programme.
Muslim Foreign Ministers meeting in Pakistan
Foreign ministers from seven Muslim nations meeting in Islamabad have called
for a diplomatic answer to concerns over Iran's nuclear programme.
The joint statement read by Khurshid Kasuri, Pakistan's foreign minister,
said: "The ministers reviewed with deep concern the dangerous escalation of
tension especially over the Iranian nuclear issue."
Kasuri said: "It is vital that all issues be resolved through diplomacy and
there must be no resort to use of force."
Arab League
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa Saturday reiterated the Arab stand
on Iran's nuclear issue, calling for continuous dialogue instead of military
action or legal procedures that could lead to the deterioration of the
situation in the region.
Moussa said the door to dialogue was still open regarding Iran's disputed
nuclear issue, regardless of some calls for tougher sanctions against Iran for
defying a UN Security Council resolution, which demanded a stop to Tehran's
uranium enrichment.
The Iranian nuclear issue will be discussed at a meeting of the Arab League
Council at the level of foreign ministers on 3 March, according to Moussa.
Spain
Miguel Angel Moratinos, Spain's foreign minister, has called for
continuation of diplomatic efforts to solve Iran's nuclear issue and said that
the EU would push for dialogue. He called for employment of all the required
potentials to opt for a diplomatic solution to the problem to avoid unwanted
situations which might lead to confrontation or rising tension between Iran and
the international community.
Russia
Russia has questioned the usefulness of additional sanctions. Vitaly
Churkin, Moscow's UN ambassador, said the goal is to reach a political
solution, not impose sanctions. Churkin said: "We should not lose sight of the
goal and the goal is not to have a resolution or to impose sanctions. The goal
is to accomplish a political outcome of this problem."
Britain
The Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett, said, "It is clear from Dr El
Baradei's report that Iran has not complied with Security Council Resolution
1737 and has failed to suspend its enrichment related and reprocessing
activities, as required by both the IAEA Board of Governors and Security
Council."
"We remain committed to a negotiated solution on the basis of the far
reaching proposals we made last June, which would give Iran everything it needs
to develop a modern civil nuclear power industry and provide a basis for wider
co-operation."
"Iran has so far failed to take this positive path and comply with Security
Council requirements. As envisaged in Resolution 1737, we will therefore work
for the adoption of further Security Council measures, which will lead to the
further isolation of Iran internationally. We will now be consulting closely
with our European, Chinese, Russian and US partners and other Security Council
members on next steps. We remain determined to prevent Iran acquiring the means
to develop nuclear weapons."
The situation in the region is very tense and many observers are talking of
the possibility of a military strike against Iran. The USA has launched the
largest military buildup in the Persian Gulf since 2003. Three carriers and
frigates, as well as US marines are now on standby off the coast.
An article in the New Yorker magazine (25/02/07), by Seymour Hersh describes
a special planning group at the highest levels of the US military had expanded
its mission from selecting potential targets connected to Iranian nuclear
facilities, and had been directed to add sites that may be involved in aiding
Shia militant forces in Iraq to its list.
Elements of the tough new approach towards Tehran outlined by Hersh
include:
* Clandestine operations against Iran and Syria, as well as the Hizbullah
movement in Lebanon � even to the extent of bolstering Sunni extremist groups
that are sympathetic to al-Qaeda.
* Sending US special forces into Iranian territory in pursuit of Iranian
operatives, as well as to gather intelligence.
* Secret operations are being funded by Saudi Arabia to avoid scrutiny by
congress. "There are many, many pots of black money, scattered in many places
and used all over the world on a variety of missions," Hersh quotes a Pentagon
consultant as saying
His assertion that the Bush administration was actively preparing for an
attack on Iran was denied by the Pentagon. "The United States is not planning
to go to war with Iran. To suggest anything to the contrary is simply wrong,
misleading and mischievous," the Pentagon spokesman, Bryan Whitman, told
reporters.
The US has no intention of attacking Iran, secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice said in a television interview broadcast on 22/02/07.
"Let me just say here publicly, the US has no desire for confrontation with
Iran, None," Rice told CNN.
In the interview Rice also reiterated her offer to talk to Iran "any time,
any place," if Tehran first halts its uranium enrichment programme.
No plan for Iran attack � Blair
British Prime Minister Tony Blair insisted Thursday there was "no planning"
underway for an attack on Iran, while defending his record on Iraq.
"You can't absolutely predict every set of circumstances that comes about
but sitting here now talking to you, I can tell you Iran is not Iraq."
"There is, as far as I know, no planning going on to make an attack on Iran
and people are pursuing a diplomatic and political solution."
"But I personally think that you will never have a situation where you
simply say there are no set of circumstances in which you could ever conceive
of anything."
Middle East
A United Nations study has found that growing numbers of people in the Gaza
and the West Bank are 'food insecure' and becoming dependent on food aid.
Poverty has risen since the international community cut off aid to the
Palestinian Authority after Hamas won parliamentary elections last year, the
new report from the World Food Programme said.
The weakening of the Palestinian economy has also made previously secure
workers � such as fisherman, farmers, and small traders � increasingly
desperate, a UN press release publicising the report said.
46% of Palestinians are now food insecure or vulnerable.
In 2004, 35% of Palestinians were food insecure.
"Many people, who cannot afford to buy food, have been forced to sell off
valuable assets such as land or tools," the report said.
Another UN agency, United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), handles
food distribution for refugees.
Arnold Vercken, the World Food Programme (WFP) country director said, "The
poorest families are now living a meagre existence totally reliant on
assistance, with no electricity or heating and eating food is prepared with
water from bad sources."
"This is putting their long-term health at risk."
Campbell called the increased humanitarian assistance a 'Band-Aid' solution
that did not offer a permanent solution to the economic problems of the
Palestinians.
Shaukat Aziz, Pakistan's prime minister, said peace in the Middle East
depended on a fair solution to the Palestinian problem and urged a united stand
against radicalism: "Durable peace in the Middle East demands an honourable
solution of Palestine based on justice, equity and realism in line with the
wishes of the Palestinian people," and a Palestinian unity government would
help progress towards a sovereign and viable Palestinian state.
On 22 February 2007 in Jeddah, the secretary-general of the 57-member
Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu,
yesterday expressed his anguish and dismay at the world's silence on Israel's
blatant moves to Judaize Jerusalem and change the holy city's historic
character. The OIC was formally established in September 1969 after the burning
of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
"When the Buddhist statues were being demolished in Bamiyan, the whole world
rose up against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan," he said in an exclusive
interview with Arab News. "UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation) was very active then, but not a word is being said
against what Israel is doing to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Nobody utters a word
against the Israeli aggression. Nobody is really taking any action. There is
silence all over."
Comments by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon
In an interview in Germany on Wednesday, 21 February 2007 on fringes of
Quartet meeting, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said, "Peace and security in
the Middle East has been long standing and unresolved. This has great, very
serious and important implications for world peace and security, not only the
situation in the Middle East. We were encouraged by the recent diplomatic
initiatives including the most recent Mecca deal, as well as the trilateral
meeting among the United States, Palestinian Authority and Israel, though this
process may be very sensitive and may be very difficult because of the very
complex nature of the situation. However at this time, it would be crucially
important for the international community to encourage this Mecca deal and this
ongoing diplomatic initiative in the Middle East. I know that this will be
again a very difficult process but, this time, what we need to do is to
encourage the parties concerned, and participants should try to encourage and
try to make the sort of framework to support such kind of peace process."
Middle East Quartet Statement following 21 February Berlin meeting
The following statement by the Middle East Quartet (United Nations, Russian
Federation, United States, European Union) was issued 21 February, following
its meeting in Berlin:
The Quartet principals - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, United
States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, United Nations Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon, High Representative for European Foreign and Security Policy
Javier Solana, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and European
Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner - met today in
Berlin to discuss the situation in the Middle East.
Secretary Rice reported on her recent 18 February meetings with Prime
Minister Olmert and President Abbas, the 19 February trilateral and United
States efforts to facilitate discussions between the parties. The Quartet
welcomed these efforts and expressed the hope that the result-oriented dialogue
initiated between Israeli and Palestinian leaders will continue in the
framework of a renewed political process, with the aim of defining more clearly
the political horizon and launching meaningful negotiations. The Quartet
reaffirmed its determination to promote such a process, in co-operation with
the parties and other regional partners. The Quartet urged the parties to
refrain from measures that prejudge issues to be resolved in negotiations.
The Quartet reaffirmed its statements regarding its support for a
Palestinian Government committed to non-violence, recognition of Israel and
acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Road Map, and
encouraged progress in this direction.
The Quartet discussed efforts underway for a Palestinian national unity
Government, pursuant to the agreement reached in Mecca on 8 February. The
Quartet expressed its appreciation for the role of King Abdullah of Saudi
Arabia and the cessation of violence among Palestinians.
The Quartet concluded with a discussion of possible further steps by the
international community in the context of a just, lasting and comprehensive
peace in the Middle East.
It welcomed preliminary ideas put forward by the European Commission to meet
the needs to better co-ordinate and mobilise international assistance in
support of the political process and to meet the needs of the Palestinian
people.
The Quartet reaffirmed its commitment to meet regularly and asked envoys to
monitor developments and actions taken by the parties and to discuss the way
ahead. It was agreed to schedule a meeting in the region soon.
Following are excerpts from Prime Minister Olmert's remarks on Monday, 19
February 2007 at the Knesset:
"We made it clear, as simply and as plainly as possible - it being
completely evident that our demand, like that of the international community
and the US, is that a Palestinian government that accepts the Quartet
principles thereby recognises all of the agreements that have been signed
between the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA), and will carry
them out."
This does not mean recognition via some sort of empty statement, but
carrying out all of these agreements, recognising the right of the State of
Israel to exist as a Jewish state and, of course, an absolute halt to terrorism
in all its expressions - Qassam fire and attempts to perpetrate other attacks.
Moreover, it is clear that all other commitments - including that to release
Gilad Shalit immediately - must be upheld."
"I also added that we will not recognise any government that does not honour
these commitments. Neither will we co-operate with it or its ministers. We
decided, I decided, that in any case, but I also said so to the Cabinet and I
think it reflects the views of all ministers that we must continue to keep a
communications channel with the Palestinians."
Prime Minister Haniyeh on 19 February 2007, stressed that he stood by
President Mahmoud Abbas in support of the Mecca Accord and for dealing with
external pressures. Haniyeh said, "we stand by President Abbas to safeguard the
Agreement and deal with international pressures that seek to maintain the state
of tension in the Palestinian arena."
The member of Fatah's Revolutionary Council and member of the PLC Mohammad
Dahlan said that the Palestinian Authority would not allow Israel to impose its
inconvenient logic on President Abbas and the Palestinian people. Dahlan
indicated that they have reached to internal understandings that were crowned
by the Mecca Accord and extensive efforts have been exerted to restore unity.
We will not allow Israel to impose its inconvenient logic on Palestinians.
Dahlan indicated that Olmert demanded that Hamas be excluded from the Cabinet,
adding: "But this time we told them we will not go by what you say." To this
demand, President Abbas said: "I respect your position but I do not agree with
you � We have our own agenda on restoring the Palestinian conformity."
The spokesman of the interim government stressed that the national unity
government, over which negotiations for its formation are underway, has the
readiness to start negotiations with the US Administration. Hamad said that the
United States is asked to change its overall positions and deal positively with
the national unity government, and the unity government is ready to talk to the
US Administration. Hamad added that the position of the US had not changed and
if the US insisted on adopting the same policy with the same mistakes, then it
means an opposition to the entire Palestinian people, given the Mecca Agreement
forged between Fatah and Hamas on the formation of a unity government. Hamad
clarified that the Mecca Accord is a broad and flexible Agreement with a clear
policy that provides ample space for political action.
Hamas on Thursday, 22 February 2007 said the United States was trying to
undermine European efforts to ease an economic blockade of a new Palestinian
unity government.
"It (the United States) aims to undermine the European and Russian efforts
in order to continue the siege imposed on our people," said Palestinian
Information Minister Youssef Rizqa of Hamas.
US Secretary of State announced the likelihood of Washington withholding an
aid of US$86 million that has been allocated for training and equipment of the
Palestinian presidency's security forces if the new government was not to
comply with the Quartet's conditions.
According to a BBC report on Thursday, 22 February 2007, it seems clear to
most observers outside the Israeli government and sections of the Bush
Administration in Washington that Hamas is moving towards the Quartet
principles.
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said it was crucially important to
encourage the Mecca Agreement.
The Russians feel something similar. Recognition of a Palestinian government
is crucial because it would allow the money tap to be reopened.
Israel believes that if Hamas will not do as it is told, it should stay
isolated � and noises are coming from the Israeli government suggesting that
the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ought to be isolated too if he chooses,
in their view, to sell out by joining Hamas.
Austria's Foreign Minister: "I think it is important that Europe is visible
and is active in the Middle East peace process in order to promote a political
process and it is therefore important that the German President has so firmly
committed to creating a process with Quartet. This is the second meeting of the
Quartet already within a few weeks and there is a plan for involving the
regional partners in the Middle East more closely. There is the plan for
holding quite soon a meeting in the region. And I think this is an important
element to develop a joint choreography. The momentum has to come from the
Israeli Palestinian situation, but partners in the region and the international
community have to act simultaneously to pick up necessary elements for a
political process."
Iraq
A Shia militia leader, Moqtada al-Sadr, has criticised the continuation of
car bombs in Iraq and withdrew his support for a security crackdown in
Baghdad.
The move by al-Sadr, is a blow for Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister,
who had expressed optimism about the US-backed offensive. Until now, al-Sadr
has supported the plan, seen as a last ditch attempt to halt all-out civil war
in Iraq.
Al-Sadr said the crackdown would not work because US forces were involved:
"There is no benefit in this security plan because it is controlled by the
occupied.�
"(The United States) is watching car bombs explode, taking the souls of
thousands of innocent Iraqi people."
Troop debate
Condoleezza Rice, the Secretary of State, urged the Democratic-controlled US
Congress not to interfere in the conduct of the Iraq war and suggested
president George Bush would defy troop withdrawal legislation.
But Senator Carl Levin, Democratic chairman of the Senate Armed Services
Committee, said legislators would step up efforts to force Bush to change
course. "The president needs a check and a balance," said Levin.
Rice said on Sunday that proposals being drafted by Senate Democrats to
limit the war amounted to "the worst of micromanagement of military
affairs."
She said military leaders such as General David Petraeus, the new US
commander in Iraq, believe Bush's plan to send more troops is necessary. "I
can't imagine a circumstance in which it's a good thing that their flexibility
is constrained by people sitting here in Washington, sitting in the
Congress."
Visit by Deputy Minister Pahad to the Gulf and Iran
I will leave with my delegation on Saturday, 3 March 2007 to the Emirates,
Qatar and Iran for the Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Co-operation
(IOR-ARC) meeting.
I believe that this visit to the region will provide an opportunity to get a
sense of what the major regional players are thinking and get a sense of what
developments have occurred after the meeting of the P5+Germany and indeed to
get a sense of the what the position of the Quartet is following what the
Europeans are saying.
Questions and answers
Question: Deputy Minister you mentioned that the summons issued by the ICC
will add a new dimension to the conflict in Sudan. Does the South African
government support this development?
Answer: South Africa is a signatory to all the conventions of the ICC and we
therefore support all processes related to the ICC. Once the ICC has declared
the processes they will be implemented.
These two people have been named and perhaps others will be named as well.
Extradition will then be sought.
This is not matter of whether we support this development or not. We are
part of the processes of the ICC.
Question: Deputy Minister regarding Iran � what is South Africa's view of
further sanctions on Iran?
Answer: We have consistently said that we support a world free of weapons of
mass destruction so we will continue to fight against countries who already
have nuclear weapons as well as against countries who are trying to manufacture
such programmes.
It has been our view, one that has been echoed by the ElBaradei report that
there is presently no conclusive proof that Iran has a nuclear weapons
programme.
However, clarification is sought from Iran regarding its past activities. We
have been urging the government of Iran to comply with such requests and
conclude the outstanding matters with the IAEA authorities.
It is clear from what Mr Larijani has said that if the matter goes back to
the IAEA, they would be willing to conclude all outstanding matters.
I want to believe that as has been said on many occasions there is no one
saying that Iran has embarked on a programme to develop weapons of mass
destruction. What is being said is that there is no trust towards Iran seeing
that they have given assurances in the past and gone back on their word.
We must encourage confidence building mechanisms.
Until we get a sense of how the P5 will proceed, we are out of the loop on
the matter however, we do know that China and Russia are opposed to
sanctions.
Question: Deputy Minister what will South Africa's position towards Iran be
when you are President of the Security Council?
Answer: South Africa will assume the Presidency of the Security Council on 1
March 2007. We cannot however comment much on what is happening on this matter
seeing that the P5 and Germany are having discussions behind closed doors.
Until we have been briefed of the outcomes of these discussions, we will be
unable to make much comment.
We will however urge the Iranians to comply with the request from the IAEA
for full compliance. We will insist on a political solution.
Question: Deputy Minister your visit to the Gulf region and Iran � can this
be seen as a solidarity visit?
Answer: No this is not a solidarity visit � Iran is hosting a meeting of the
members of the Indian Ocean Rim. I will also be visiting the Emirates and
Qatar.
President Mbeki will in March pay a visit to Saudi Arabia and I will later
in the year pay another visit to Iran where I will co-chair our annual
bilateral consultations. I will at this time also visit other countries of the
region.
As I have mentioned in one of my other briefings � the Baker-Hamilton report
has said very clearly that the Middle East conflict can only be resolved if we
deal with the matter of Palestine and Israel. In this regard, Iran and Syria
are key to the solution. We would want to get a better sense of what the
thinking on these matters are in the region.
Question: Deputy Minister will South Africa, in principle, oppose sanctions
against Iran?
Answer: We cannot deal with imaginary issues � we must note the context of
this matter. We must consider the proposed resolution. I do however reiterate
that the body that is best placed to deal with this matter is the IAEA.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
28 February 2007
