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Iran, EU to discuss details of light-water reactor in January

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Dec 19, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi 
said here Sunday that a European delegation is to visit Iran after the
New Year holidays to discuss construction of a `research` nuclear 
reactor in the Islamic Republic. 
"A European delegation will come to Iran after the January 
holidays to discuss details of this issue," he told reporters during 
his weekly news briefing. 
The visit follows Iran`s agreement with the Europeans last month 
to suspend uranium enrichment activities in return for a package of 
incentives, including EU`s assistance in the construction of a 
light-water power reactor in Iran. 
Iran is already building a nuclear reactor in the southern city 
of Bushehr with Russian assistance under a 800-million-dollar deal, 
with the project planned to come on stream in 2006. 
Asefi said Iran and the European side held their first nuclear 
committee session in a European city Friday and discussed their 
`peaceful nuclear cooperation` as well as `tangible guarantees` in the
implementation of their agreements. 
"Preliminary discussions were held concerning the equipment used 
in the Bushehr plant and other power plants and it was agreed that 
such negotiations would continue. 
"Talks were also held on tangible guarantees which (are reflected 
in) the principles of the Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Treaties. 
"It was agreed that we reach an understanding on these two 
subjects so that both we receive our due rights and the Europeans` 
concerns are removed," he added. 
The two sides, however, will hold their `political and security` 
session Tuesday, Asefi said. 
Iran has also been invited for the first time to a session of 
the 25-member club of the countries mastering nuclear fuel cycle, the 
official added. 
Tehran insists that its nuclear program is solely aimed at power 
generation and strongly rejects US claims that the program is a front 
to build atomic bombs. 
Iran agreed last month to suspend uranium enrichment under an 
agreement reached in Paris with Britain, France and Germany, which 
represent the European Union, in exchange for trade, technology and 
security incentives. 
Uranium enrichment is allowed under the nuclear Non-Proliferation 
Treaty (NPT), to which Iran is a signatory, and the country wants it 
as part of its efforts to master a nuclear fuel cycle. 
The EU incentives reportedly include a guaranteed supply of 
reactor fuel, assistance to construction of a light-water power 
reactor and a resumption of stalled trade talks. 
Several rounds of talks on a mutual trade and cooperation 
agreement (TCA) had been held between the two sides before Iran`s 
nuclear issue was catapulted into the center of their talks. 
The EU-Iran talks began after President Mohammad Khatami came to 
power in May 1997, with the EU taking up a policy of `comprehensive 
dialogue` with the Islamic Republic in the form of biannual Troika 
meetings on political and economic issues. 
The political part of the dialogue covers issues regarding 
conflicts, including in the Middle East, non-proliferation of weapons 
of mass destruction, human rights and terrorism. 
On the economic front, the European Union is exploring 
possibilities for cooperation with Iran in energy, trade and 
investment as well as refugees and drugs control. 
The EU is Iran`s biggest trading partner, with oil accounting for 
over 80 percent of Tehran`s exports to the EU. Iran also sells 
agricultural products -- mainly pistachios -- as well as textiles and 
carpets to the EU. 
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