Learn Chinese - Annan: Iran intervention would be unwise

WORLD / Middle East

Annan: Iran intervention would be unwise

(AP)
Updated: 2006-12-20 08:39

UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Tuesday a
negotiated settlement with Iran over its nuclear program should be
sought, and he warned that military intervention would be "unwise and
disastrous."

Secretary-General Kofi Annan speaks to the media during a news conference
at United Nations headquarters in New York, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006. [AP]

Annan, who steps down as UN chief Dec. 31, issued the warning as the
Security Council debated a resolution that would impose sanctions on
Tehran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment. The United States is
considering sending a second aircraft carrier to Persian Gulf as a show
of force against Iran.

He addressed concerns about a possible military operation in Iran at a
farewell news conference in response to a question about how the Security
Council should deal with crises after the Iraq war. The council refused
to authorize a war against Saddam Hussein in 2003 and Annan called the
UN's failure to stop the conflict "the worst moment" of his 10 years as
secretary-general.

"You mentioned Iran, which implies that there is concern that there may
be another military operation there," Annan told a reporter. "First of
all, I don't think we are there yet, or we should go in that direction."

"I think it would be rather unwise and disastrous," he said.

"I believe that the council, which is discussing the issue, will proceed
cautiously and try and do whatever it can to get a negotiated settlement
for the sake of the region and for the sake of the world," he said.

The Bush administration has repeatedly declined to rule out the use of
force in Iran, although senior officials have also said their first
choice is to rely on diplomacy.

A senior US defense official said the idea of building up US Navy forces
has been discussed for some time and one proposal is to send a second
aircraft carrier to the region. The official, speaking on condition of
anonymity because the idea has not been approved, said it's unclear when
a decision will be made.

Iran insists its nuclear program is aimed solely at the peaceful
production of nuclear energy, but the Americans and Europeans suspect
Tehran's ultimate goal is the production of nuclear weapons

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterated Tuesday that possible
Security Council sanctions would not stop Iran from pursuing uranium
enrichment, a technology that can be used to produce nuclear fuel for
civilian purposes or fuel for a nuclear bomb.

Annan expressed concern that because of Iran's nuclear program and the
situation in Israel, which is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons,
several governments in the Middle East have said recently they are going
to explore facilities to produce nuclear energy.

1 2 

Top World News 

� Gates: Failure in Iraq will haunt US

� US tells N.Korea to get serious about nuke talks

� New shooting ends Gaza cease-fire

� 27 killed at Pakistan wedding party

� Wedding fire, stampede kills over 20 in Pakistan

Today's Top News 

� SOEs focus on domestic stock market

� Governors need to be more open

� Spending next year targets rural areas

� Bush plans more troops in Iraq

� China names key industries for absolute state control

Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours

Learn Chinese, Learn mandarin, 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