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Mottaki reinstates Iran's ambassador to United Nations

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Nov 2, IRNA
Iran-Diplomacy
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Wednesday that he reinstated Iranian Ambassador to United Nations Mohammad-Zavad Zarif.

Zarif has been assigned to the post by the former government.

He said that terms of more than 40 ambassadors on mission to foreign countries will expire by the end of current Iranian year (to end on March 21, 2006).

"Some of the ambassadors have reached the age of retirement and have applied for it. New diplomats should replace them."
A reporter asked whether an embargo has been imposed on import of goods from South Korea, Mottaki said that the government has made no decision to cut off economic cooperation with any country.

Answering a question why the Foreign Ministry is not active in publicity affairs for the country's nuclear program, he said that after resolution of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Governing Board against Iran on September 24, a statement was released to acknowledge Iran's formal position.

"The statement has three sections and Iran reaffirmed its commitment to Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and Safeguards Agreement of IAEA," Mottaki said.

Mottaki said that the UN Agency inspected Iranian nuclear sites in two stages and that IAEA inspectors held useful negotiations with Iranian officials in Tehran.

He hoped that outcome of the latest round of discussions between Iranian officials and IAEA inspectors would be effective in upcoming meeting of Governing Board of the Agency slated for November 24.

A reporter asked what measures the Foreign Ministry has taken to extradite terrorists, involved in bombing in Ahvaz, Khuzestan province, from foreign countries, Mottaki said that list of the terrorists has not been forwarded to the Foreign Ministry yet and that the ministry will follow up the case after receiving the list.

Meanwhile, Mottaki did not confirm the speculation that responsibility of Iranian nuclear case has been relegated to Foreign Ministry.

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