Report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

Table of Contents

1. Letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

2. Policy Paper of Denmark

3. Opening of the Session
3.1. Opening speech of the delegation of Denmark
3.2. Opening speeches of the other honourable delegates
3.3. Setting of the agenda

4. First Session
4.1. First informal meeting
4.2. Following sessions
4.3. Report of the IAEA

5. Draft Resolutions
5.1. Introduction of our resolution
5.2. Draft resolutions of other states

6. Exclusive meeting of the P5
6.1. Draft resolution of the P5
6.2. Voting about S/RES/06/01/05

7. Conclusion

1. Letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

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Permanent Mission of Denmark to the UN
One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza,
885 Second Avenue,
18th floor
New York
N.Y. 10017-2201

Udenrigsministeriet

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
Minister Per Stig Møller

Berlin, June, 18th, 2006

Honourable Minister Møller,

as demanded we provide today the detailed report of the UN Security Council Session on

The Situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran

from June, 9th to 10th, which took place in the nice ambience of the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder).

I am proud you committed this important task to me and my fellow colleague Beate Schneider. I am sure we could strengthen the Danish position. With some of our strong allies we successfully reached our immanent goals.

Further information about the process and outcome of the Session you will find in the following report.

Sincerely, Yours

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Andreas Lorek
Ambassador
Permanent Mission of Denmark in the UN

2. Policy Paper of Denmark

Before the actual session we forwarded an official policy statement to the Secretary of the UN. All other delegations produced as well these so-called policy papers. In this paper we explained our point of view, as agreed with our department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Beate Schneider Position Paper of Denmark Andreas Lorek

[illustration not visible in this excerpt]Honourable Delegate of Denmark Honourable Delegate of Denmark

Denmark is an active contributor to and participant of the international system. Our country has always taken its place among the world community concerning political challenges and tasks. It has supported the fight against terrorism since its beginning and will not give up securing a safe and just environment. The Islamic Republic of Iran is one country in the world threatening freedom and democracy and therefore Denmark, together with its allies, has to find a peaceful solution to this problem.

In the past couple of months Denmark has experienced a never-experienced wave of violence following the publishing of comics with an Islamic topic in a Danish newspaper. The publisher of these comics has clearly not thought about the consequences its actions would have. The concerned Danish newspaper has offered its apology to all Muslims for the offence caused by the drawings. Denmark is a very tolerant country which enables its citizens to live according to their cultures and believes. We tolerate the feelings and ways of living of all inhabitants of our country. In Denmark there is a genuine respect for the religious feelings of other people. However, there are certain values that we are willing to defend against people that threaten them such as democracy, freedom and safety for our and other innocent citizens.

On 29th of March, Mr. Mohamed ElBaradei, the general director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), published a summary on Iran’s atomic programme. This summary appeared at the same time with the Security Council’s declaration on Iran. Mr. ElBaradei´s summary states the Iran has – within the last month – carried through enrichment of uranium.

Even though the IAEA has been in contact with the Iranian government and requested an immediate stop to their atomic energy programme if it is used to produce weapons, the Islamic Republic of Iran did not care about these proposals. Nevertheless, we would prefer to see the dossier of Iran in the hands of IAES than the UN Security Council. Denmark still believes that all diplomatic and negotiated means should be used to solve the disagreements over Iran's nuclear program.

Our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Per Stig Møller, has stated in this connection: “The summary of IAEA general director Mohamed ElBaradei is very clear. Iran has carried through enrichment of uranium activities. Iran’s co-operation with the IAEA is still not satisfying. Mr. ElBaradei is very worried about this situation and the ongoing insecurity and threat, which derives from Iran’s atomic programme.” Møller finds it very worrying that Iran continues to not listen to the IAEA´s guidelines and the Security Council’s advice. There is even the word out that the country is about to take another step further in the wrong direction which could lead to an international crisis.

The unwillingness to co-operate and the tone in the international relations even became harder after the elections of a new parliament and president in Iran. The European diplomatic triangle, consisting of France, Great Britain and Germany, tried to negotiate and to find solutions, which are satisfactory for all sides of the conflict. Many possible solutions were proposed of how this problem could be solved. Denmark fully supports the diplomatic engagement of the European countries in this conflict but also stresses the importance to work together with the IAEA..

The European Union proposed to give the Iranian government the newest nuclear technology, which exists at the moment on the market. European negotiators were ready to provide Iran with a light water nuclear reactor. The European offer was supported by the United States as well. But the Iranian government rejected all possible solutions and suggestions by the world community. Up to now they did not clearly and doubtless prove, that the Atomic programme is only for civilian use, which would be the clear and supportable right of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Denmark’s government stresses now the importance that the Security Council speaks with one voice and tries to find a peaceful solution to the problem. There is no use in using weapons to guarantee peace. A military confrontation is not at all a possibility we support. There have to been clear rules and requests Iran has to fulfil to show its good will and gain back the trust of the international community. The only way Iran is allowed to use atomic energy is for a civilian purpose. The nuclear programme of Iran is a particular and urgent concern, which we want to deal with as soon and successful as possible.

Preferred Agenda Topics:

- a peaceful solution in contrast to military action

3. Opening of the Session

Prof. Dr. Gesine Schwan, president of the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) and our host, opened the session of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). She welcomed us with warm words and introduced our upcoming work with quoting the great philosopher Immanuel Kant. With his words she told us, how important it is to be able to think like other persons. This ability is necessary, to find common agreements and solutions.

Vice-President Kirthi Ramesh introduced the Presidency of the Council. Mr. Hodg, Mrs. Kirsten Häger, Mr. Simon Brombeiss and Mr. Kimon Hars. She welcomed the honourable delegates as well with warm words and wished all a fruitful session.

3.1. Opening speech of the delegation of Denmark

I was very proud to present our position in the opening speech for the Permanent Mission of Denmark to the UN:

Honourable Presidents of the United Nations Security Council,

honourable delegates,

honourable guests,

Denmark is an important contributor to the international system. We were and will be always engaged to maintain world peace. In the current situation about the Situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran we will as well do all, to find a peaceful solution. The unwillingness of Iran to cooperate is definitely not helpful in this events.

We fully support the diplomatic engagement of the European States and the P5. The European Union and recently the P5+Germany agreed on a package of valuable incentives for Iran. But up to now Iran did not agree and did not even negotiate as demanded.

Still, we would prefer to see the current case in the hand of the IAEA than in the hand of the UNSC. But now, we all, should try to stand together and to speech with one voice to find a peaceful solution. We will always stand to our words: There is no use in using weapons to guarantee peace.

Thank you very much.

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