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DPRK INTO A CORNER, BUT MODERATE SECURITY COUNCIL ACTION WOULD BE A POSITIVE ADDITION TO BILATERAL CONTACTS AND THE CONTINUING EFFORTS OF THE IAEA.
6. I ADDED THAT IN EXPRESSING AN INTEREST IN MAKING INDEPENDENT EFFORTS TO HELP SOLVE THE ISSUE THE SECRETARY-GENERAL WAS NOT SAYING THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO COUNCIL ACTION. THERE WAS NO ESCAPING THAT THE COUNCIL WAS NOW INVOLVED, BOTH BECAUSE OF THE DPRK'S DECLARATION OF ITS INTENTION TO WITHDRAW FROM THE NPT, AND
IF THE CHINESE MAINTAINED BECAUSE OF THE IAEA BOARD RESOLUTION.
THEIR POSITION THEY WOULD RISK AN EXTENDED SERIES OF PROCEDURAL VOTES IN THE COUNCIL AT EVERY STAGE OF CONSIDERATION, WHICH WOULD FURTHER DAMAGE THE CAMPAIGN TO GET THE DPRK TO RECONSIDER. VORONTSOV NOTED THAT CONTINUING CHINESE OBJECTION TO COUNCIL ACTION WOULD NOT BE WELL RECEIVED INTERNATIONALLY.
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7. IT WAS AGREED THAT THE CHINESE WOULD SEEK INSTRUCTIONS, THAT P5 AMBASSADORS WOULD MEET AGAIN IN THE MORNING OF 6 APRIL, WITH A VIEW TO HEARING BLIX'S REPORT IN INFORMAL COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS THAT AFTERNOON.
8. WHEN I MET THE INCOMING (PAKISTANI) PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL EARLIER ON 2 APRIL, MARKER SAID THAT THE SOUTH KOREAN FOREIGN MINISTER HAD TOLD HIM THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME COUNCIL RESPONSE TO THE NORTH KOREAN ACTIONS. MARKER ADDED THAT THE CHINESE HAD HOWEVER BEEN ANGERED EVEN AT THE INCLUSION OF NORTH KOREA AS AN ITEM IN THE LIST OF COUNCIL BUSINESS FOR THE COMING MONTH CIRCULATED INFORMALLY BY THE SECRETARIAT TO COUNCIL MEMBERS IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR USUAL BILATERALS WITH THE NEW PRESIDENT. HE KNEW THAT BLIX (NOW IN STOCKHOLM) WAS READY TO COME TO NEW YORK CON HIS WAY TO VISIT PAKISTAN), BUT SUGGESTED THAT HE (MARKER) SHOULD WAIT TO FIND OUT THE CHINESE POSITION BEFORE INVITING HIM TO REPORT TO THE COUNCIL.
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I SAID THAT THE CHINESE COULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO EXERCISE A PROCEDURAL VETO, AND ONE WAY OF SQUARING THIS CIRCLE WOULD BE FOR BLIX TO BRIEF THE COUNCIL IN INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS (AS WALKER LATER SUGGESTED TO THE P5). THE COUNCIL HAD TO FIND SOME WAY OF ENGAGING ITSELF IN THE MATTER, OTHERWISE PRESSURE FOR ACTION AGAINST THE DPRK WOULD INCREASE IMPOSSIBLY OVER TIME. AGREED THAT THE COUNCIL COULD NOT IGNORE THE MATTER (COMMENT: MARKER MAY NEED TO BE PUSHED TO SOME EXTENT ON THIS ISSUE DURING HIS PRESIDENCY).
MARKER
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