GENEVA, May 20, 2007 (AFP) - Swiss diplomatic moves to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme by compromises on both sides are a "farce" and should be withdrawn, former US ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said on Sunday. The so-called "Swiss Paper" proposes that Iran freeze its work on sensitive nuclear activities while world powers halt UN sanctions action, in the hope that this mutual pause will create room for manoeuvre.
Bolton, who was a leading hawk in the Bush administration in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, told Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung that the plan is a "farce". "Switzerland should keep out of it," he added.