Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in Iran (PART II)
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Vienna, Nov 24, IRNA
Iran-Statement-Board of Governors
Speaking at the Board of Governors meeting on Thursday about the agenda for today's session, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei continued by briefing the participants on the implementation of NPT Safeguards Agreement in Iran.
"The report before you provides an update on the implementation of agency safeguards in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
"As the report makes clear, the agency is continuing with its effort to clarify the nature and extent of Iran's nuclear program.
Iran has provided additional documentation, permitted interviews with relevant individuals and allowed further access.
"I welcome these actions on the part of Iran. The agency is currently assessing the results of this additional information.
"However, I urge Iran to respond positively and without delay to the agency's remaining questions related to uranium enrichment and to the additional transparency measures we have requested.
"As I have stated before, these transparency measures are indispensable for the agency to be able to clarify remaining outstanding issues - in particular the scope and chronology of Iran's centrifuge enrichment program.
"Clarification of these issues is overdue, after three years of intensive verification efforts.
"The agency will continue its investigation of these and other issues in order to be in a position to provide the required assurance about the peaceful nature of the program. I will continue to report to the board, as appropriate.
"The agency continues to monitor installations related to Iran's enrichment programs and has not observed any deviation from Iran's voluntary suspension of enrichment activities.
"Iran has continued to conduct uranium conversion activities at its Isfahan facility. The agency has been verifying this activity and all UF6 produced so far at this facility remains under agency containment and surveillance.
"I do hope also that in parallel, every effort will be made so that the dialogue between Iran and all concerned parties can be resumed, with a view to achieving a comprehensive solution that addresses, inter alia, both Iran's concerns about its right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and the concerns of the international community about the peaceful nature of these activities.
"I still believe that robust verification by the agency, combined with active dialogue among all concerned parties, is the best way to move forward."
Special Committee on Safeguards and Verification
"The Special Committee on Safeguards and Verification held its first meeting earlier this month. The Secretariat presented to the committee the areas in which, from our perspective, the safeguards system could be strengthened. I hope that the committee, in time, will be able to consider all ways and means to strengthen the system and will be in a position to recommend concrete measures to the board."
Other Items of Interest
Joint Convention on the Safety of Spend Fuel Management and the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management
"In October 2005, the Russian Federation became the 36th country to ratify the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management.
"The 2nd Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the convention will be held next day.
"This convention still has only a limited number of parties, despite the fact that almost all states have radioactive waste and therefore wide adherence to this convention would be of clear benefit to the safety and security of all states.
"The Secretariat intends to organize a series of regional workshops to encourage more states to join this convention." 2326/1412
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