China welcomes Iran`s signing of Additional Protocol
IRNA
Beijing, Dec 19, IRNA -- China on Friday welcomed Iran`s move to sign the additional protocol of the NPT. The office of the spokesman for China`s Foreign Ministry in a communique issued Friday said the signing of the additional protocol would contribute to the prosperity of the country and bring about positive results. China expressed satisfaction with the good cooperation between the Islamic Republic and the International Atomic Energy Agency which has resulted in the settlement of Iran`s nuclear issue. Iran signed the additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in Vienna on Thursday, thus allowing snap inspection of its nuclear facilities by the IAEA experts. The protocol was signed by Iran`s outgoing representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali-Akbar Salehi in a ceremony attended by IAEA Chief Mohammad ElBaradei. On September 12, a resolution setting a deadline for Iran to disclose information on its nuclear program was approved without voting by IAEA Governing Council session in Vienna. The resolution had been set forth by Canada, Australia and Japan and was approved by the 35-member board of governors giving Iran by the end of October to prove it is not seeking secretly to develop nuclear weapons. Later on, foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany in a meeting with Iranian officials on October 21 issued a statement aiming to settle the questions on Iran`s nuclear program and its peaceful application of nuclear technology between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Islamic republic has been accused by the US of attempting to develop nuclear weapons - a claim strongly denied by the Islamic Republic. HB/214 End
