13 Dec 2012

UN / IRAN

The Security Council today (13 December) heard a briefing by Nestor Osorio, Chair of the Iran Sanctions Committee, who reported a number of alleged violations to the sanctions regime imposed on Iran over its nuclear programme. UNTV

Posted at: December 13, 2012 6:50 pm

Duration: 02:37

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: UN / IRAN
TRT: 2.37
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH /  FRENCH / NATS
 
DATELINE: 13 DECEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, United Nations headquarters

13 DECEMBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council Chamber
3. Med shot, delegates of UK and US
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Nestor Osorio, Chairman of the 1737 Committee and Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations:
"The Committee sought information from several States relating to the inspection and seizure, on 15 March 2011, of three shipping containers of arms and arms-related material onboard the ship M/V Victoria. I am pleased to inform you, Mr. President that three States have already responded to the Committee's letters and offered helpful details.  I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all States to cooperate with the Committee and its Panel of Experts in the investigation of possible sanctions violations."
5. Med shot, delegates of South Africa and Togo
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Philip Parham, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations:
"We remain appalled by credible information that Iran is providing technical advice, financial support, equipment and weapons to aid Assad's brutal and violent repression of the Syrian people.  This is in stark contravention of the will of the Syrian people and a reminder of Iran's hypocrisy in claiming to support freedom in the Arab world."
7. Med shot, delegates of Portugal and Russian Federation
8. SOUNDBITE (French) Martin Briens, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations:
"I recall that together with the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany, France notified the Committee on 9 October about Shabab-3 missile tests carried out by the Revolutionary Guards last summer. This is a clear violation of paragraph 9 of resolution 1929, which we must punish. It is shocking that North Korea's launch was the subject of unanimous condemnation by the international community, with the exception of Iran which on the contrary welcomed the launch, and who also has a space programme which has no other purpose than to validate technologies for military use. "
9. Med shot, delegates of China and Colombia
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Rosemary DiCarlo, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
"Iran cannot continue its approach of denial, deception and distraction. Now it is the time to demand Iran's full cooperation, full compliance, and full commitment to resolve outstanding issues about its nuclear programme. Given Iran's ongoing breach of its obligations, the international community must make good in our commitment to fully and aggressively the sanctions this Council has imposed. Full implementation of these measures will reduce Iran's ability to advance its nuclear programme, support terrorism and destabilize the region."
11. Zoom in, Security Council

STORYLINE:

In his quarterly report, covering the period from 13 September to 4 December 2012, Osorio pointed out that in September, the Committee sought information from several States relating to the inspection and seizure, on 15 March 2011, of three shipping containers of arms and arms-related material onboard the ship M/V Victoria.  He welcomed the responses by three States to the Committee's letters that offered helpful details.  Osorio called on all States to cooperate with the Committee and its Panel of Experts in the investigation of possible sanctions violations.

Osorio also mentioned the report by four Member States stating that the July 2012 Great Prophet 7 exercise, during which Iran tested Shabab-1 short range ballistic missiles and Shabab-3 medium range ballistic missiles, constituted a violation of paragraph 9 of resolution 1929 (2010). This case is currently being investigated by the Panel.

Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom Philip Parham told the Council that he is "appalled by credible information that Iran is providing technical advice, financial support, equipment and weapons to aid Assad's brutal and violent repression of the Syrian people."  Parham added that this was "in stark contravention of the will of the Syrian people and a reminder of Iran's hypocrisy in claiming to support freedom in the Arab world".

Deputy Permanent Representative of France Martin Briens presented a summary of the report by four Member States (United States, United Kingdom, Germany and France) about the Iran's test of Shabab-3 medium range ballistic missiles. Briens stressed that it constituted a clear violation of paragraph 9 of resolution 1929 (2010).

French Ambassador added that "It is shocking that North Korea's launch was the subject of unanimous condemnation by the international community, with the exception of Iran which on the contrary welcomed the launch, and who also has a space programme which has no other purpose than to validate technologies for military use. "

United States Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo, in her statement to the Council, said that Iran cannot continue "its approach of denial, deception and distraction. " She stressed that now it was time to demand Iran's "full cooperation, full compliance, and full commitment" to resolve outstanding issues about its nuclear programme. DiCarlo added that full implementation of sanctions would "reduce Iran's ability to advance its nuclear programme, support terrorism and destabilize the region".

Iran's nuclear programme – which its officials have stated is for peaceful purposes, but some other countries contend is driven by military ambitions – has been a matter of international concern since the discovery in 2003 that the country had concealed its nuclear activities for 18 years in breach of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The resolution under which the Security Council committee was established – resolution 1737 of December 2006 – banned trade with Iran in all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to the country's enrichment-related, reprocessing or heavy water-related activities, or to the development of nuclear-weapon delivery systems.

Resolution 1747 of the following year tightened the sanctions by imposing a ban on arms sales and expanding the freeze on assets. The Council imposed further sanctions against Iran in resolution 1803 in 2008. These included the inspection of cargo suspected of carrying prohibited goods, the tighter monitoring of financial institutions and the extension of travel bans and asset freezes, over its nuclear programme.

Resolution 1929  builds on previous sanctions by deciding that Iran shall not acquire an interest in any commercial activity in another State involving uranium mining, production or use of nuclear materials and technology.