Libya Deplores UN Nuclear Double Standard.
Posted on 15. Mar, 2009 by Admin in Libya News
Libya's UN charge d'affaires Mr. Ibrahim Dabbashi, voiced concern on Tuesday over selective targeting when it comes to nuclear non-proliferation. Stressing the need to find a peaceful solution, he suggested direct negotiations with Iran would be the best way to accomplish this goal. Dabbashi, who was also the UN Security Council President but spoke in his national capacity, stressed the need for intensified international efforts to find a peaceful solution to the question of Iran's nuclear program through diplomatic efforts and consultations. But he also deplored what he called double standard on the part of some Western powers when it comes to the issue of nuclear proliferation. We regret that the Security Council to this date has not given appropriate attention to the issue of Israel's nuclear weapons although Israel refuses to accept the non-proliferation treaty or to subject their installations to IAEA safeguards, Mr. Dabbashi told the Security Council.The comments came during a discussion in the council of a report by the so-called Iran Sanctions Committee. Yukio Takasu, Japanese ambassador and chairman of the committee, said that Iran had violated Resolution 1747, which sanctions Iran for failure to relinquish its nuclear enrichment program. The committee monitors implementation of sanctions and measures imposed on Iran by Resolution 1747, as well as resolutions from 2006 and 2008.U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice told a Security Council Session Iran still has not met its international nuclear obligations yesterday.Dabbashi called on all parties to initiate direct negotiations as soon as possible. He also criticized the council for debating Iran's nuclear program while disregarding the possibility that Israel may have such a weapon. He regretted that the Council had not yet given appropriate attention to the issue of Israel's nuclear weapons, even though Israel refused to be subjected to IAEA safeguards. Dabbashi added, that was frustrating to the aspiration of the people in the region to create a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, as expressed in several General Assembly resolutions.Libya currently holds the month-long presidency of the Security Council. This frustrates residents of the region who are trying to disarm the Middle East of nuclear weapons, said Ibrahim Dabbashi. China and Russia's representatives had no comments.He also said there were ongoing consultations with Council Members on a possible decision under article 16 of the Rome Statute that set up the ICC, which could defer investigations connected with an indictment for 12 months. We hope the situation will not deteriorate in Sudan. We feel it is very important that the Security Council look into this matter in light of the decisions taken by the Regional Organizations, especially the African Union and the League of Arab States, he said.There was as yet no consensus on the matter, he said, and the Council would continue its consultations and closely watch the situation on the ground in the meantime, he added.In regard to peacekeeping policy, Mr. Dabbashi said that on 18 March an open debate is planned on the report of the AU-UN Panel on joint peacekeeping operations, chaired by Libya's Secretary for African Affairs.{Tripolipost}