[Please note that only the original French text issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be considered official.]

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Q - Can you go over the French position following Russia's reluctance to vote on the draft proposal on sanctions against Iran?

A - The talks are continuing in New York. Our objective is to see the text adopted as quickly as possible. We feel we've taken everyone's concerns into account so as to find a point of equilibrium which should help unity in the Security Council.

Q - But France and Britain announced the voting was Friday?

A - What we did was put the text in blue in New York. Putting a text in blue means that a vote can take place 24 hours after the text has been put in blue. That means that the voting might have come today. The reports I have available suggest that the voting will not take place today.

We're going to decide the moment once the conditions are met. This will be done in New York so as to see at what moment we can go to the vote. What we'd like is to see it adopted as soon as possible. We said our objective was to see the resolution adopted before Christmas. It's not Christmas yet.

You'll have seen the various statements, particularly Ms Rice's yesterday about the draft resolution and the statements from the Russians. Our role, with Britain, has been to find a point of equilibrium in this matter. We feel now that we are very close to this point of equilibrium. We have taken everyone's concerns into account, and keep in mind that these concerns do not necessarily go in the same direction. We consider that we've almost achieved this point of equilibrium and that the resolution should be adopted very quickly.

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Q - How is it that you've given up so much on the travel ban on Iranian officials without getting anything from the Russians in return? The impression is that you've yielded on a point that was vital, and the Russians continue to say they're not ready to vote.

A - I don't know that you can say we've yielded. We hope to arrive at a draft resolution.

The draft calls for a re-examination on the basis of the IAEA report after 60 days.

The draft is consistent with what we've said all along, that is, a gradual process that will evolve in one direction or another depending on what Iran does. We've sought agreement on this text. Proposals were made which have been adjusted to take on board everyone's concerns, and we now feel we're very close of a point of equilibrium.

Let me remind you that it's a draft in the framework of Article 41 of the Charter, Chapter 7. It implies restrictions with respect to exports for a whole raft of sensitive equipment which helps Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile activities. It includes measures to freeze assets. So it's a whole series of measures.

And with respect to the specify point you raise, i.e. the issue of travel, and visas, the latest draft refers to vigilance by states and a reciprocal system of information. We consider that this draft constitutes the clear sign we would like to send Iran. We consider that this project should now be adopted very quickly by the Security Council.

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Q - Is one country being an intermediary at this time?

A - Two countries are endeavoring to find an agreement on the text, Britain and France. The text is the result of discussion between the three Europeans and it was presented to the Security Council by Britain and France. I don't know if the word intermediary is quite suitable, but we're trying to get the broadest possible agreement on this text.

Q - What points do Russia and China object to?

A - I don't want to go into the details of the text which is fairly well known to you anyway. There's the question we've mentioned of travel, of visas and eventually other aspects which are being discussed. I don't want to go into details. But remember that we've been working on the draft for several weeks, and it has already been modified several times. We are now very close to a point of equilibrium, and the text seems likely to get very broad support from the Security Council, including from Russia, the United States and other Security Council members.

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Q - If you give up sanctions on travel and visas, what's left?

A - In our view there are still important things in the resolution, specifically the fact that it's taken under Article 41 of Chapter 7 of the Charter, that it establishes an embargo on a whole series of goods linked to sensitive activities in the nuclear and ballistic missile domains, that it provides for a freeze on assets. With regard to travel, it is true that the current text no longer provides for a ban but asks member states to be vigilant with respect to a number of individuals.

After 60 days we'll have a report from the IAEA and we will be able to move in one direction or another.

If the report is still negative, we will be able to consider new developments and new measures. If the report is positive the measures can always be postponed. In our view this resolution is therefore very important.

Q - But the Iranians say if there is a resolution, they'll cease to work with the IAEA. How will the IAEA monitor activities if they won't work with the agency?

A - I don't know what the Iranians will do. It is certainly something we've already heard. But we can see already that the Iranians are not fully cooperating with the IAEA. They have decided not to implement the additional protocol and are not providing full and complete cooperation to the IAEA.

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