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British, French, German FMs issue joint statement

IRNA

Tehran, Oct 21, IRNA -- Foreign Ministers of Britain Jack Straw, 
of Germany Joschka Fischer and of France Dominique de Villepin 
paid a visit to Tehran on Tuesday at the official invitation of 
the Iranian government. 
Following extensive consultations, the Iranian authorities and 
ministers agreed on measures aimed at settlement of all outstanding 
issues of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with regard to the
Iranian nuclear program and enhancing confidence for peaceful 
cooperation in the nuclear field. 
The Iranian authorities reaffirmed that nuclear weapons have no 
place in Iran`s defense doctrine and that its nuclear program and 
activities have been exclusively in the peaceful domain. 
They reiterated Iran`s commitment to the nuclear non-proliferation
regime and informed the ministers that the Iranian government has 
decided to engage in full cooperation with the IAEA to address and 
resolve, through full transparency, all requirements and outstanding 
issues of the agency, clarify and correct any possible failures and 
deficiencies within the IAEA. 
They stressed the commitment of Iran`s government to promote 
confidence with a view to removing existing barriers for cooperation 
in the nuclear field. 
Having received the necessary clarifications, the Iranian 
government has decided to sign the IAEA Additional Protocol and 
commence ratification procedures. 
As a confirmation of its good intentions, the Iranian government 
will continue to cooperate with the agency in accordance with the 
protocol in advance of its ratification. 
While Iran has a right within the nuclear non-proliferation 
regime to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, it has decided
voluntarily to suspend all uranium enrichment and reprocessing 
activities as defined by the IAEA. 
The Foreign Ministers of Britain, France and Germany welcomed 
the decisions of the Iranian government and informed the Iranian 
authorities that their governments recognize the right of Iran to 
enjoy peaceful use of nuclear energy in accordance with the NPT. 
In their view, the Additional Protocol is in no way intended to 
undermine the sovereignty, national dignity or national security of 
its States Parties. 
According to the three European foreign ministers, the full 
implementation of Iran`s decisions, confirmed by the IAEA 
Director-General Mohammad El-Baradei should enable the immediate 
situation to be resolved by the IAEA Board of Governors. 
The three governments believe that this will open the way to a 
dialogue on a basis for longer term cooperation, which will provide 
all parties with satisfactory assurances relating to Iran`s nuclear 
power generation program. 
Once international concerns, including those of the three 
governments, are fully resolved, Iran could expect easier access to 
modern technology and supplies in a range of areas. 
They will cooperate with Iran to promote security and stability 
in the region, including the establishment of a zone free from 
weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East in accordance with 
the objectives of the United Nations. 
MP/212 
End