Date : 23/04/2009
UNITED NATIONS, April 23 (KUNA) -- Libya on Thursday blocked a letter that
the Security Council Sanctions Committee against Iran would have sent to
Member States urging them to be more alert regarding Iran's export of weapons
in violations of various council resolutions, diplomats said.
The letter proposed by US, UK and France was referring to the specific case
of a Cypriot-flagged vessel carrying weapons from Iran to Syria earlier this
year.
"In light of this incident, the Committee urges all Member States to
redouble their efforts to ensure full implementation of (various relevant)
resolutions.
In particular, the Committee recommends Member States to be especially
alert for additional violations that might occur in similar circumstances to
the case," the letter would have said.
Letters and Statements by the council or its various committees need the
consent of all 15 members to be approved.
The letter would have added that "the Committee believes that this
information may help Member States carry out their internatioal obligations
with respect to (various relevant) resolutions, in particular to aid States in
detecting and preventing future violations.
"The letter would have asked Member States to share "on a confidential
basis if necessary," information regarding alleged violations of the measures
imposed in those resollutions.
The Committee would have expressed its intention in the letter to "take
seriously its mandate to examine and take appropriate action on such
information.
"The Committee's chairman - Japan - sent letters to both Iran and Syria
last month, requesting information about the shipment.
"Regrettably neither state provided such information to the Committee," the
letter would have said.
Iran and Syria did answer the Committee's letter earlier this month. They
implicitly admitted the shipment but questioned the UN's silence regarding
Israel's policies in the Palestinian and Arab occupied territories. (end)
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