[Marxism] South Africa votes for sanctions on Iran

[mqduck@xxxxxxxxx]

Considering the debate we've had here on the nature of the ANC today, many
of you should find this interesting.


http://allafrica.com/stories/200803070214.html

South Africa: Country Votes for Further Sanctions On Iran
BuaNews (Tshwane)
7 March 2008
Posted to the web 7 March 2008
Vivian Warby
Cape Town

South Africa has voted in favour of a new United Nations Security Council
resolution imposing further sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend
uranium enrichment.

The Security Council on Monday passed the third set of sanctions against
Iran over its pursuit of uranium enrichment which the international
community fears could lead to the development of a nuclear weapon.

The resolution authorised a third round of sanctions targeting
individuals, companies and equipment that could be used in Iran's nuclear
programme.

Speaking at media briefing in Cape Town on Thursday, Foreign Affairs Chief
Director of the UN Xolisa Mabhongo said South Africa did manage to make
interventions in the resolution and introduced amendments which helped to
address some of its concerns.

Some of the interventions included:

* The specific recognition of the latest report by the Director-General of
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); South Africa wanted the
resolution to acknowledge an IAEA report stating that some progress had
been made in Iranian cooperation with the nuclear watchdog.

* The understanding that once Iran had established the peaceful nature of
its nuclear activities, there would be no discrimination against it and
that it should be treated as any other member of the non-proliferation
treaty.

Two other factors that played a part in swaying South Africa were:

* The call by Libya for the need to establish a Nuclear Free Zone in the
Middle East which was included in the resolution.

* A call by Vietnam for recognition of International Law and civil
Aviation Law which was included in resolution.

Mr Mabhongo described the resolution as an evolving one and said it had
not been the same resolution that it had started out as when South Africa
first opposed it.

France and Britain postponed the vote to try to gain the support of four
non-permanent Security Council members, including South Africa.

However, Mr Mabhongo confirmed that South Africa was not persuaded by any
of the two powers or the visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy last
week had tipped South Africa into voting in favour of the resolution.

He said they listened to all sides: "We listened to the views of France,
the UK, the European Union, South Africa, Libya, Indonesia and Vietnam. "

He said Iran had made great progress with its work with the IAEA and hoped
that it would not retaliate after this vote by withdrawing its
co-operation with the IAEA.



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