WORLD / Other Countries
China: Still room for diplomacy
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-04-25 16:55
China has insisted the Iran nuclear issue could still be resolved through
negotiations as it called on all sides to show flexibility in ending the
escalating stand-off.
"We believe, in the current stage, there is still room to resolve this
issue through negotiations," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told
reporters at a regular briefing.
"We call on all parties to show flexibility and allow a proper resolution
of this issue through dialogue and negotiations. The international
community should not abandon its efforts for peaceful negotiations. And
all moves should be helpful to achieving this objective."
Qin's comments came after Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on
Monday his nation would not comply with a UN Security Council demand that
it freeze its uranium enrichment program by Friday.
The United States is pushing for the Council to consider a draft
resolution that would oblige Iran to comply or face sanctions or possible
military action.
Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said on Tuesday that his
nation would suspend its relations with the UN's atomic watchdog, the
International Atomic Energy Agency, if sanctions were imposed.
He also said Iran was expanding its uranium enrichment work and that the
country would hide its nuclear program if it was attacked.
Qin's initial comments were made before Larijani spoke.
But Qin said afterwards that the Iranian negotiator's latest comments did
not change China's position.
"We hope all sides will exercise restraint and flexibility and continue
to hold dialogue and negotiations so as to create favorable conditions to
properly resolve the Iranian nuclear issue," Qin said.
Iran says it only wants to enrich uranium to make reactor fuel to
generate electricity, but the United States and other Western powers say
the energy program is a cover for building nuclear weapons.
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Today's Top News
� Bullish market boosts investors' confidence
� 310 Chinese back home from Solomons
� Egypt resort bombings kill 23
� Koizumi blamed for icy China ties: poll
� Chinese nationals flee Solomons
Top World News
� Egypt resort bombings kill 23
� Iran's Ahmadinejad defies UN on nuclear drive
� Hyundai CEO quizzed on slush fund scandal
� Abbas warns Hamas he can remove government
� 7 car bombs explode in Baghdad, killing 6
Learn Chinese online, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment