国际英语新闻：Draft UNSC statement shows unity in response to Cheonan case: U.S. envoy

UNITED NATIONS, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Susan Rice, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, said here Thursday that she circulated a draft statement at the UN Security Council and the statement "shows the Council's unity" in response to the sinking of the South Korean corvette Cheonan in March.

The draft statement represents "clear, appropriate response" to the Cheonan incident, in which 46 South Korean sailors were killed, Rice said.

Rice said that she tabled the draft statement at the closed- door Security Council meeting on Thursday afternoon after the five permanent members (P5) of the Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- reached an agreement on the draft statement.

"At the meeting the United States tabled a presidential statement that has been agreed by the P5 plus 2. That is the U.S., France, Britain, China, Russia, South Korea, and Japan," Rice told reporters at the end of the closed Council meeting.

"The proposed statement needs no interpretations. It's very clear and an appropriate response that if approved by the full Council would send a unified message that the Security Council condemns the attack of the March 26 that led to the sinking of the Cheonan," she said.