Amb. John R. Bolton on Iran Haiti, & Cote d'Ivoire

U.S. Department of State

Remarks to the Press on Iran's Nuclear Program, Haiti, and Cote d'Ivoire

Ambassador John R. Bolton, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Remarks at Security Council Stakeout
New York City
February 7, 2006

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Well, today we had our first daily briefing. And we started almost on time. We had a briefing on two subjects, one on the elections in Haiti, which will be held today. We talked about the situation on the ground there and MINUSTAH people were doing. And we also talked a bit about the situation in Cote d'Ivoire, but we've never talked about or contemplated that these were going to be decision-making meetings. They are daily briefings; we had a number of questions from the ambassadors that Assistant Secretary General Annabi answered. And we adjourned after about 45 minutes to come back tomorrow.

REPORTER: So what's the status on the Cote d'Ivoire targeted sanctions? Are they in effect? Have they been adopted? Is there some snafu?

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: We expect an announcement on that by the end of the day today. And when the announcement's ready we'll make the announcement.

REPORTER: Mr. President, is there a reason for the delay? And then I had an Iran question.

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: There's some logistical difficulties, some getting technicalities in place for the sanctions to take effect, and some translation questions - and that sort of thing.

REPORTER: Have they been approved by all the members?

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: We'll make the announcement later today. That's what making the announcement later today means.

REPORTER: On Iran, the letter has been transmitted from the IAEA to the Security Council. Can you tell us what the next step is for the Council?

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: This is the standard document, you've all seen it before, distributing the IAEA Director-General's letter to the members of the Security Council as he requested as the IAEA resolution required. So that step has been taken.

REPORTER: And what is the next step? And when will that be taken?

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Well, you know, the Foreign Ministers of the five Permanent Members plus Germany made an agreement in London the text of that you've all seen about when the next action will be. So there will be some other steps in the Council, like responding to the Director General of the IAEA, which we will follow in the normal Council procedures.

REPORTER: Have you had any P5 meetings here?

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: There are none scheduled.

REPORTER: Haiti?

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Well, the situation today, the election is being held, and there was a report on the opening of the polling stations, and the security situation, and steps that are taken as the day will go on, contingency plans, how the votes will be secured and counted, and that sort of thing. So it was essentially, what you would expect in a daily briefing, beginning on the day of the election. We will discuss Haiti again tomorrow and probably through the rest of the week.

REPORTER: Is the United States playing any particular role in these elections?

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Well, the role I think we have had, because of our interest in returning Haiti to a democratic society, that we have been helping the UN, helping the OAS, in a number of respects to try and make the elections successful.

REPORTER: Kofi Annan, the Europeans, and the OIC I think, are thinking of some kind of statement regarding this cartoon and the related violence. Will the US be involved in any statement or do you think there might be any call for a discussion in the Security Council on what's been happening?

AMBASSADOR BOLTON: Well, I don't think there is anything I have, that I can report on the subject, at least in the domain of the Security Council.

Released on February 7, 2006

ENDS

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