Item 4 (c): “Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and relevant provisions of Security Council resolutions 1737 (2006) and 1747 (2007) in the Islamic Republic of Iran”
Thank you, Mr. Chairman,
1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries Croatia and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia , the Countries of the Stabilization and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia, the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, as well as the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, align themselves with this statement.
Mr. Chairman,
2. The EU would like to thank 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 Iran’s nuclear programme, as reflected in the Director General's report, contained in document GOV/2008/4.
3. On the issues covered by the Work Plan, the European Union welcomes the progress on outstanding issues and notes that the Agency regards the contamination at a technical university, the polonium 210 experiments, and the Gchine mine issues as “no longer outstanding at this stage”, but that it will continue, in accordance with its procedures and practices, to seek corroboration of its findings and continues to verify this issue as part of verification of the completeness of Iran’s declaration. The EU strongly supports the efforts of the Agency to seek corroboration and hopes the Agency will be able to verify the completeness and correctness of Iran’s declarations in due course.
4. However, the EU remains seriously concerned that despite more than four years of intense efforts by the IAEA the Agency is still not in a position to determine the full nature of Iran’s nuclear programme. According to the report and to the material presented at the secretariat technical briefing, one major remaining issue relevant to the nature of Iran’s nuclear programme is the alleged studies, inter alia on the green salt project, high explosives testing and the missile re-entry vehicle. The EU shares the view of the Director General that this is a matter of serious concern and critical to an assessment of a possible military dimension to Iran’s nuclear programme. The EU urges Iran to engage actively with the Agency in a more detailed examination of the documents available about the alleged studies and to address further the role and activities of the PHRC in connection with these studies. The EU also urges Iran to allow the Agency to have access to all people required and to provide answers on the role of the uranium metal document and the reasons why Iran kept this document, which existence in Iran is in itself a matter of concern.
5. 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 and 1747. 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. As stated in the report, Iran has expanded its enrichment related activities by feeding the cascades with UF6 at the Fuel Enrichment Plant in Natanz and by installing new generation centrifuges (IR-2) at the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP). The EU is also concerned that Iran is continuing with the construction of the IR40 heavy water reactor and operation of the Heavy Water Production Plant. The European Union urges 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 requested for such a long time.
Mr. Chairman,
6. The EU notes that Iran has recently provided additional information, as well as updated design information for PFEP, as a result of which the Agency’s knowledge about Iran’s current declared nuclear programme has become clearer. However we also note that according to the Agency this information has been provided on an ad hoc basis and not in a consistent and complete manner. The EU expresses its deep concern that, in the absence of the full implementation of the Additional Protocol, the IAEA is not in a position to provide credible assurances on the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities. Furthermore, the Agency has not been able to draw conclusions on the nature of Iran’s past and present nuclear activities. The EU calls upon Iran to provide full, clear and credible answers to the IAEA, to resolve all questions concerning Iran's nuclear activities, to ratify and implement the Additional Protocol and to fully implement the provisions of the Comprehensive Safeguard Agreement, including its subsidiary arrangements. It emphasizes that carrying out these actions and the transparency measures as requested by the IAEA would constitute a positive step to build confidence concerning Iran's nuclear programme.
7. According to the report of the Director General, no progress has been achieved in regard to Iran’s decision to unilaterally suspend implementation of the modified text of its Subsidiary Arrangements General Part, Code 3.1. 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 resume implementation of modified Code 3.1.
8. The EU recalls the conclusions adopted by the European Council in December 2007, whereby the EU reaffirmed its deep concern at Iran’s nuclear program and underlined that the acquisition by Iran of a nuclear military capability would be unacceptable. The EU reiterates its full support for the work in the UN Security Council to adopt further 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.
9. The EU reaffirms its full and unequivocal support for efforts to find a negotiated long-term solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, and its continuing commitment to the comprehensive package of the E3/EU plus 3 as proposed to Iran in June 2006 by the EU High Representative Mr. Solana. The EU thanks Mr. Solana for his continuing diplomatic endeavor in favor of a peaceful solution. The package, proposed to Iran includes, inter alia active support to build new light-water power reactors using state-of-the-art technology. The package reaffirms Iran’s right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes provided that the obligations as set out in Articles I, II and III of the NPT are met. It would give Iran everything it needs to develop a civil nuclear power industry while addressing international concerns. The EU regrets that Iran has not taken up this offer yet. The EU therefore seizes this opportunity to call once more upon Iran to engage in negotiations with the E3/EU plus 3 to accept the above mentioned proposal.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman
[1] Croatia and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilization and Association Process
