DATE=3/8/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CZECH-IRAN-NUCLEAR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259982
BYLINE=ALENA KENCLOVA
DATELINE=PRAGUE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Czech parliament has banned the sale of
sensitive technology for a nuclear power plant in
Iran. (128 deputies voted for the measure out of 183
present.) Alena Kenclova in Prague has more.
TEXT: The lower house of the Czech parliament held a
two-day emergency session before approving a special
law prohibiting the deliveries.
It puts an end to months of debate about whether a
Czech engineering company (Z-V-V-Z Milevsko) can sell
30-million dollars worth of equipment to Iran through
a Russian intermediary. The equipment was to be
supplied to a nuclear power plant being built in
Bushehr.
All parties in the Czech parliament, except the
communists, supported the ban on the sale.
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who visited
Prague this week, said she appreciated the Czech
government's commitment to prevent the proliferation
of technology, which could be misused for a nuclear
weapons program.
/// OPT /// German and French companies were involved
in the initial stages of the Bushehr power plant from
1974. But they withdrew after the Islamic revolution
in 1979. Russian companies took over in 1995, after
almost two-dozen countries were reported to have
refused to participate. /// END OPT ///
Opposition parties criticized the Social Democrat
cabinet for its slow reaction to the intended deal.
/// OPT /// Compensation will now have to be paid by
Czech taxpayers in an economy that is still struggling
hard with restructuring. The Social Democrat
government says it will help the company find new
orders. /// END OPT ///
Secretary of State Albright said during her visit to
Prague that the recent parliamentary elections in Iran
were a sign that the reform movement in the country
would like to see some changes. But asked whether the
United States was considering lifting sanctions on
some goods, Secretary Albright listed three
conditions.
// ALBRIGHT ACT //
Iran must not seek to acquire weapons of mass
destruction, that is one of our problems, the
other is their continued support for terrorist
groups, and the third, they need to support the
Middle East peace process.
// END ACT //
The Czech law banning the technology sale to Iran must
still be approved by the senate and signed by Czech
President Vaclav Havel to come into effect. (SIGNED)
NEB/AK/GE/RAE
08-Mar-2000 13:32 PM EDT (08-Mar-2000 1832 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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