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DE RUCNDT #0179/01 0651847
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000179 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR IO/PSC:JSANDAGE, IO/UNP:EBROWN, AND ISN/CPI:TWUCHTE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PTER UNSC PARM KNNP
SUBJECT: DDA, IAEA, OPCW, AND WCO BRIEF COUNCIL ON 
IMPLEMENTATION OF UNSCRS 1540, 1673 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 22307 
     ¶B. USUN 127 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000179  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  BEGIN SUMMARY:  Representatives of the Department for 
Disarmament Affairs, the Organization for the Prohibition of 
Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the International Atomic Energy 
Agency (IAEA), and the World Customs Organization briefed the 
Security Council in a public meeting on February 23, 
concerning cooperation between the UN and international 
organizations in promoting implementation of UN Security 
Council Resolutions 1540 (2004) and 1673 (2006).  Following 
the briefings, all Council members, Germany (on behalf of the 
European Union), Cuba, Belarus (on behalf of the Cooperative 
Security Treaty Organization), Norway, Israel, Australia, El 
Salvador, Pakistan, Argentina, the Republic of Korea, Japan, 
Guatemala, Uruguay, Bangladesh, Brazil, Viet Nam, New Zealand 
(on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum), and Iran spoke. 
Slovak PermRep and 1540 Committee Chairman Burian then read a 
statement that, among other things, reiterated the Council's 
determination to enhance its cooperation with international 
organizations to help promote implementation of resolution 
1540 (S/PRST/2007/4).  A transcript of the meeting has been 
sent to IO/PSC and ISN/CPI and can be found at 
www.un.org/Depts/dhl/resguide/scact2007.htm.  END SUMMARY. 
 
-------------- 
U.S. Statement 
-------------- 
 
¶2.  Ambassador Sanders delivered the U.S. statement (ref A), 
adding additional points expressing concern about Iran's 
nuclear program.  Amb. Sanders said the IAEA's report that 
the Council received on February 22 makes clear that Iran has 
not complied with resolution 1737 (2006), highlighting Iran's 
continued defiance of the international community.  The 
IAEA's report describes Iran's failure to cooperate fully 
with the IAEA's investigation, which is unacceptable, she 
said.  As resolution 1737 indicates, the Council should be 
prepared to take additional appropriate measures to 
communicate to the Iranian regime that its non-compliance is 
unacceptable and to persuade it to cooperate, Amb. Sanders 
added.  She then highlighted U.S. experiences in implementing 
resolution 1540, including the issuance of E.O. 13382 
concerning proliferation financing, and described U.S. 
assistance to build states' capacity to implement the 
resolution.  She also encouraged the Council to urge states 
that may need help in meeting their obligations under the 
resolution to seek assistance from the IAEA and the OPCW. 
 
------------- 
Common Themes 
------------- 
 
¶3.  Common themes in other statements included the importance 
of resolution 1540 in efforts to counter the proliferation of 
weapons of mass destruction (WMDs); the need for technical 
assistance and outreach; and the call for better coordination 
among the 1540 Committee, the Counter-Terrorism Committee 
(CTC), the 1267 Committee, and their experts' groups to 
minimize duplicative reporting requests and alleviate 
reporting fatigue.  The UK and Israel echoed U.S. concerns 
about Iran, noting Iran's failure to meet its obligations 
under resolution 1737 (2006).  Notably, OPCW Director General 
Regelio Pfirter strongly condemned the use of chlorine gas by 
Iraqi insurgents and urged governments - particularly in the 
Middle East - to join him in stating clearly that the use of 
poison gas is unacceptable. 
 
¶4.  Several delegations also praised U.S.-sponsored outreach 
events on 1540, such as the ASEAN Regional Forum workshop in 
February and last November's OSCE/FSC session.  Argentina, 
Pakistan, and Brazil criticized the Committee's process for 
 
USUN NEW Y 00000179  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
renewing the contracts of its experts as unfair and lacking 
transparency.  Without using names, Brazil speculated that 
the Committee had extended Russian expert Victor Slipchenko 
and U.S. expert Richard Cupitt for longer than the three 
other experts because they come from P-5 member states. 
 
--------------------------- 
South Africa Critiques 1540 
--------------------------- 
 
¶5.  South Africa delivered a provocative statement 
criticizing aspects of resolution 1540 and reiterating the 
G-77 argument that disarmament and non-proliferation are 
equally important.  (Note:  Cuba, Iran, Indonesia, and 
Pakistan echoed South Africa's comments on disarmament.)  It 
complained that "no credible efforts" have been made to close 
the gap in the international regimes addressing disarmament 
and non-proliferation since the resolution's introduction and 
that, instead, the Council extended the 1540 Committee's 
mandate in 2006.  South Africa said the threat of WMDs and 
their delivery systems can only be addressed "in a balanced 
and comprehensive manner" through the existing multilateral 
treaty regimes and suggested that, in adopting resolution 
1540, the Council had assumed legislative and treaty-making 
powers beyond its authority.  It also criticized 1540's 
reporting request, saying reporting obligations should be 
differentiated by each state's capabilities.  Finally, South 
Africa urged the 1540 Committee, the CTC, the 1267 Committee, 
and their experts to address overlaps in their functions and 
reporting requests to avoid duplication, ultimately resulting 
in joint visits to states. 
 
---------------------------- 
Iran Defiant, Defends Record 
---------------------------- 
 
¶6.  Iran criticized resolutions 1540 and 1673, called for the 
total elimination of nuclear weapons, and accused the United 
States, the UK, and Israel of mounting "baseless allegations" 
concerning its nuclear program.  Asserting that it implements 
resolutions 1540 and 1673, Iran then questioned the 
resolution's compatibility with the UN Charter and 
international disarmament instruments.  The resolutions 
should not be interpreted or implemented to conflicts with, 
or alter, the rights and obligations set forth in instruments 
such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Chemical 
Weapons Convention, and the Biological Toxin Weapons 
Convention, Iran argued, espousing its "inalienable right" 
under the NPT to pursue and develop nuclear technology for 
peaceful purposes.  Iran also called the IAEA's inspections 
in Iran "the most robust inspection of any Member State," 
saying the IAEA has "repeatedly reaffirmed that it 'has not 
seen any diversion of nuclear material to nuclear weapons or 
other nuclear explosive devices' in Iran's peaceful nuclear 
program." 
WOLFF