AFM HE YAFEI ON IRAN: CHINA SUPPORTS NEW UNSC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 006342 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2032 TAGS: PREL PARM PTER MNUC IR CH SUBJECT: AFM HE YAFEI ON IRAN: CHINA SUPPORTS NEW UNSC RESOLUTION "AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME" REF: EAP-EMBASSY EMAIL OF 9/26/07 Classified By: Ambassador Clark T. Randt, Jr. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) Summary: China supports a new UN Security Council resolution on Iran when appropriate, but a new resolution should not hurt either the Iranian people or the legitimate economic and energy interests of China or other countries, Assistant Foreign Minister (AFM) He Yafei told the Ambassador September 27. AFM He expressed appreciation for U.S. support for diplomatic efforts to resolve the problem and said that the two tracks of UNSC action and IAEA negotiations should reinforce one another, not cancel each other out. He suggested that the P5-plus-1 encourage the EU and Iran to resume diplomatic negotiations and urged the United States to begin direct talks with Iran over the nuclear issue. The Ambassador per ref e-mail urged China to support a third UNSC resolution, forego new energy deals with Iran and prohibit Chinese weapons and dual-use technology sales to Iran. End summary. ¶2. (C) After discussing Burma with Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei September 27 (septel),the Ambassador drew upon ref e-mail points to urge China to increase pressure on the Iranian regime by supporting a third UN Security Council Resolution, foregoing new energy deals and prohibiting Chinese companies from selling weapons and dual-use technology to Iran. He noted that this issue was among President Bush's top concerns in discussion with President Hu Jintao in Sydney in early September and that failure to adopt promptly a third UN Security Council resolution will be taken by Iran as a failure of international resolve on this issue. ¶3. (C) AFM He responded that Iran, like Burma, is a difficult issue. China is unhappy that Iran has not complied with the UNSC resolutions; Iran should do so. AFM He noted that President Hu made China's position clear during his meeting with President Bush in Sydney and that Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi further expounded on that position and described Chinese actions in the region during meetings in both Australia and the United States. Preference for a Diplomatic Solution -------------- ¶4. (C) AFM He noted China's appreciation that the United States had reiterated its preference for a diplomatic solution to the problem and that China, like the United States, supports a two-track strategy. AFM He stated that China continues to believe that the United States and China have no strategic differences over the Iran nuclear issue. AFM He noted, however, that actions by the UN Security Council (UNSC) on the one hand and in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and EU negotiating tracks on the other should reinforce each other, not cancel each other out. Possibility of a New UNSC Resolution -------------- ¶5. (C) AFM He stated that when appropriate, China would support a new UNSC resolution to pressure Iran and urge its cooperation. In this regard, China has been taking a constructive approach, sending a representative to the recent P5-plus-1 Political Directors meeting to discuss a draft text of a UNSC resolution. He said that the content of a new draft resolution should not negatively affect the Iranian people nor harm legitimate economic or energy interests of China or other nations. He noted that Secretary Rice and Under Secretary Burns said they SIPDIS would take into account the Chinese position on these matters. China hoped the United States would do so seriously. Timing of the Resolution -------------- ¶6. (C) As for timing of a new resolution, AFM He said that the Chinese know that the United States has ideas, and he urged further consultation and cooperation. AFM He asked the United States to consider relevant factors, such as ongoing dialogue between the IAEA and Iran on "outstanding issues" and IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei's views on the matter. He urged that consideration of timing take BEIJING 00006342 002 OF 002 into account possible damage to ongoing IAEA efforts. AFM He said he hopes for progress at the September 28 Ministers' meeting and hopes the meeting can provide guidance on how to move forward. Suggestions: Further Discussion for both U.S. and EU -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) AFM He said China had two suggestions. First, the P5-plus-1 should encourage EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana and Iranian Chief Nuclear Negotiator Ali Larijani to resume dialogue, as that channel is an important part of diplomatic efforts. Second, the United States should hold direct talks with Iran on the nuclear issue. Direct U.S.-Iran talks, he said, could be the most effective approach. ¶8. (C) The Ambassador reminded AFM He that both China and the United States, as well as others, agreed to the dual-track efforts. The two tracks should mutually reinforce one another, he acknowledged, but the United States fears that the UNSC track is losing credibility as Iran continues to ignore UNSC resolutions with impunity. The Ambassador also stated that while the United States appreciates the efforts of the IAEA, those efforts are insufficient by themselves, as they only address the past and not the present or the future. AFM He responded that both the past and future are important and that understanding the past could help resolve the future. Randt