Skip to content .

Service navigation

Main Navigation

Area-Navigation

Further information

Link to slovenia.si opens in a new window

Services

Statements in International Organisations

04.06.2008

IAEA - Board of Governors: Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and relevant provisions of Security Council resolutions 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007) and 1803 (2008) in the Islamic Republic of Iran (Vienna)

Statement of the Republic of Slovenia on behalf of the European Union by mr. Bojan Bertoncelj, Chargé d`Affaires for Multilateral Affairs, Permanent Mission of Slovenia

Thank you, Mr. Chairman,

  1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. [The Candidate Countries Croatia,* The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia* and Turkey, the Countries of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia, the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, align themselves with this statement.]

 

Mr. Chairman,

  1. The EU would like to express its appreciation to the Director General and the Secretariat for their continuing professional and impartial efforts in implementing verification activities in the Islamic Republic of Iran and in trying to resolve the long outstanding issues relating to the nature and history of Irans nuclear programme, as reflected in the Director General's report, contained in document GOV/2008/15.
  2. The European Union notes with concern that Iran, once again, has failed to take the steps required by United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1696, 1737, 1747 and 1803. The EU notes with growing concern that Iran continues to disregard the request of the IAEA Board and the mandatory demands of the UN Security Council aimed at building confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme. On the contrary, as indicated in the latest report, Iran is further increasing its enrichment capacities - quantitatively and with new types of centrifuges. The European Union keeps urging Iran to implement the measures requested by the IAEA Board and required by the UN Security Council, particularly the suspension of all enrichment-related activities, including research and development that have been required for such a long time.
  1. The EU regrets that despite the Agencys request to Iran to reconsider its decision to suspend the implementation of the modified text of its Subsidiary Arrangements General Part, Code 3.1, no progress on this issue has been achieved. The EU reiterates that Iran cannot unilaterally modify the Subsidiary Arrangements of its Safeguards Agreement and supports the IAEA's request made to Iran to reconsider its decision to suspend the implementation of modified Code 3.1. Furthermore the EU notes with concern that Iran failed to inform the Agency, within the timeframe envisaged in Code 3.1., of the revision of design information for FEP and PFEP. The EU shares the view of the Agency that these changes are significant and as such should have been communicated to the Agency.
  1. The EU remains seriously concerned that despite more than five years of intense efforts by the IAEA, the Agency is still not in a position to determine the full nature of Irans nuclear programme. In that respect the EU notes the Agencys concern regarding the possible military dimensions of Irans nuclear programme. We share the view of the Secretariat that the alleged studies on the green salt project, high explosive testing and the missile re-entry vehicle remain a matter of grave concern. We note that the Agency, after carefully examining the information provided to it with regards to the alleged studies, has presented such information to Iran. This information, which has been derived from multiple sources, and which is detailed in content is believed by the IAEA to be generally consistent. Therefore a simple rejection by Iran of this information as not authentic, forged or fabricated is neither credible nor acceptable, given the quality and quantity of the documents presented by the Agency to Iran, as we know from the Report and the technical briefing. We note that Iran did not dispute that some of this information is factually accurate.
  1. While welcoming that Iran was finally willing to engage in reviewing the Agencys questions, we regret that Iran has not provided the Agency with all the information, access to documents and individuals necessary to support Irans statements. In this regard the EU notes with concern that the Agency is of the view that Iran may have additional information, in particular on high explosives testing and missile related activities, which could shed more light on these important questions and which Iran should share with the Agency.
  1. The Agency has clearly indicated that in order to be able to provide assurances regarding the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities it needs Iran to implement the Additional Protocol, resolve questions related to the alleged studies, explain the circumstances of the acquisition of the uranium metal document, clarify procurement and R&D activities of military related institutes and clarify the production of nuclear equipment by companies belonging to defense industries. In addition, the EU underlines that, according to the Agency, clarification regarding the alleged studies is criticalto an assessment of the nature of Irans past and present nuclear programme.

 

Mr. Chairman,

  1. The EU calls upon Iran to provide substantive explanations, thereby answering in detail the Agencys questions as contained in the Annex of the DGs May 2008 report as well as other pertinent questions concerning Irans present and past nuclear programme. We underline that completely clarifying these issues could constitute an important element in building confidence in the peaceful nature of Irans nuclear programme.
  1. The EU recalls the conclusions adopted by the European Council in December 2007, whereby the EU reaffirmed its deep concern at Irans nuclear programme and underlined that the acquisition by Iran of a nuclear military capability would be unacceptable. The EU reiterates its full support for the work of the UN Security Council to consider the adoption of further appropriate measures under Article 41, Chapter VII of the UN Charter. In this context the EU reiterates its full support for the implementation of the additional UNSC measures contained in the UNSC Resolution 1803.
  1. The EU notes the exchange of letters between the President of the UNSC Sanctions Committee and the Secretariat and underlines that any form of technical assistance provided to Iran should not contribute to proliferation activities. The EU recalls that an exception to the suspension of TC was made, inter alia, for nuclear safety projects. The EU is seriously concerned by information that Iran is considering launching the Busher Nuclear Power Plant without being party to the Convention on Nuclear Safety.
  1. The EU reaffirms its full and unequivocal support for efforts to find a negotiated long-term solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. The EU supports the renewed E3/EU plus 3 offer, based on the far reaching offer made in June 2006, that the EU High Representative Solana is expected to hand over to Iran soon. The EU therefore urges Iran to create the necessary environment for negotiations to be launched and to comply with the requirements of the UNSC and the Board of Governors, including the suspension of enrichment related activities.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman

 


* Croatia and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilization and Association Process

 

Accessibility     . Print     .


Date: 05.06.2008