UNITED NATIONS - Pakistan on Wednesday called for avoiding confrontation over Iran's nuclear programme, saying such a course could destabilise the volatile region, while emphasising a peaceful resolution of the contentious issue.
"A negotiated solution to the unresolved issues needs to be facilitated by striking a balance between sanctions and negotiations," Pakistan's U.N. Ambassador Masood Khan told the Security Council which is reviewing the quarterly report of a committee named after the 15-member body's resolution 1,737 that imposed sanctions against Iran for failing to stop its uranium enrichment programme. The Pakistani envoy welcomed the recent talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (P-5) plus Germany, hoping that the "positive and conciliatory" overtures and statements would lead to results.
"Affirmation of faith by all sides in negotiations is important. There may be a way out of the current impasse through consistent engagement," he said. "A peaceful resolution of the issues is possible on the basis of reciprocal confidence-building measures and the necessary steps to ensure Iran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The Council and the Committee need to lend their support to these efforts. "It is essential to avert confrontation over Iran's nuclear programme which has the potential to destabilise the immediate neighbourhood of Iran and the volatile region," Masood Khan added. He urged the Panel of Experts on the committee to conform to its mandate, and that its reports, analyses and recommendations must be objective and impartial and backed by solid evidence. "We reiterate our view that Security Council sanctions should not be pursued as an end in itself," the ambassador said. "A negotiated solution to the unresolved issues needs to be facilitated by striking a balance between sanctions and negotiations."
Easing of pressure on Iran, he said, could help with negotiations. "Iran, as a party to the NPT (Non-proliferation Treaty) and a member of the IAEA, is entitled to certain rights that should be respected in line with the provisions of these instruments."  At the same time, he urged Iran to fulfil its legal obligations under the NP and to stay engaged with the IAEA with a view to resolving all outstanding issues.