Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that his country refuses any attempt to resort to military in settling the Iranian nuclear problem.

"Indonesia's consistent attitude and position is that the Iranian nuclear question should be settled peacefully through negotiations and diplomatic channels," Antara news agency on Saturday quoted the president as saying when addressing the Prophet Muhammad anniversary celebration at the State Palace in Jakarta at Friday night.

Yudhoyono said that sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Iran are not a main goal of its resolution but a means of persuading Tehran to be ready to come to the negotiating table.

"The Sanctions themselves are not an ultimate objective. They must be persuasive in nature so that a country would change its position and use negotiation channels."

He said that the settlement process of the Iranian nuclear issue had not yet been accomplished as Indonesia was still continuing its efforts to ask all sides to adopt fair stance on the issue and give a priority to negotiations.

Indonesia supported the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and all countries, including Iran, had the rights to use such a technology, he added.

Fifteen members of the UN Security Council, including Indonesia as non-permament member, endorsed on Saturday (March 24) a resolution to impose additional sanctions on Iran after the country refused to stop its uranium enrichment program.

UN Security Council Resolution 1747 which was prepared by Britain, France and Germany calls for a ban on export of weapons to Iran and freezing of the assets of 28 persons and organizations linked to the Iranian nuclear and missile program.

Indonesian government's decision to support the UN resolution has met with strong criticism in parliament and public opinions in the country.

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Hasan Wirajuda said Friday evening that the government would explain the people the government's comprehensive reasons for supporting the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution 1747 on tightening sanctions against Iran.

"So far, the information received by the public and the House of Representatives (DPR) is not complete," the foreign minister said.

The minister said the UNSC resolution 1447 should be viewed comprehensively and as a follow-up of resolution 1737 which asked Iran to stop its uranium enrichment program and which was not followed by Iran.

Source: Xinhua