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This week at the U.N.

The Security Council has a full agenda this week dealing with conflicts and problems in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. On Monday, council members consult behind closed doors on the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region. Last week, the African Union (AU) announced its intent to transition its peacekeeping mission to a better-equipeed and high-tech U.N. operation. But the Sudanese government opposes a quick handover and instead it appears that the AU force will stay in place for six more months. Many council members, including the U.S., had been hoping for a clear blessing by the AU for such a transition, in the hope of ending the bloodshed in Darfur, which the U.S. has called "genocide."

Iran: How the Security Council will respond to Iran's nuclear program now that the IAEA has clearly referred the matter to the council will no doubt be a central focus of the week, although the outcome is not clear. The five permanent Security Council members -- the U.S., Britain, France, Russia and China -- have been holding private meetings in an effort to agree on a draft presidential statement that the full council will possibly consider and approve this week. The U.S., Britain and France have been pressing for a strong statement that would demand Iran cooperate fully with IAEA requirements, which include halting its uranium enrichment efforts, and possibly ask for a new report by the IAEA about Iran's compliance in the weeks ahead. Russia, meanwhile, has been stressing that the IAEA, not the Council, should still take the lead in dealing with Iran and has pressed for weaker council action and further negotiations. However, Tehran's weekend decision to apparently spurn Moscow's compromise offer to help enrich uranium for Iran on Russian territory, a proposal supported by the U.S. and EU, might have an impact on negotiations.

In any case, diplomats note that the Council will move gradually and deliberately in its actions.  Sanctions are not viewed as an option at this point, although U.S. Ambassador John Bolton and other U.S. officials have hinted that if Iran does not cooperate and the council does not eventually take "vigorous" action to pressure Iran, then it might be necessary to turn to its allies to impose possible targeted sanctions.

Also on the council calendar this week are public briefings by Secretary General Kofi Annan's special representative for Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, and the head of the U.N. investigation into the assassination last year of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.  Meanwhile, Kofi Annan, who periodically travels abroad to meet with world leaders in their countries, is on a two-week trip to Africa.

Read more from Linda Fasulo

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