Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

NAM issues statement in support of Iran nuclear case

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Havana, Sept 17, IRNA
NAM-Iran-Statement
Member sates of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) issued a separate statement Saturday night at the end of their 14th summit supporting Iran nuclear issue.

They stressed resumption of unconditional talks was the only solution to Tehran nuclear standoff with the West.

The full text of the statement of the 118-nation body is as follows:
"1- The heads of State or Government reiterated their principled position on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation reflected in the Final document of XIV Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement held in Havana, Cuba from 11-16 September 2006. They considered the developments regarding the implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

"2- The Heads of State and Government reaffirmed the basic inalienable right of all states, to develop research, production and use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes without any discrimination and in conformity with their respective legal obligations.

Therefore, nothing should be interpreted in a way as inhibiting or restricting this right of States to develop atomic energy for peaceful purposes. They furthermore, reaffirmed that States choices and decisions in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear technology and its fuel cycle policies must be respected.

"3- The Heads of State and Government recognised the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as the sole complete authority for verification of the respective safeguards obligations of Member States and stressed that there should be no undue pressure or interference in the Agency's activities, especially its verification process which would jeopardize the efficiency and credibility of the Agency.

"4- The Heads of States or Government welcomed the cooperation extended by the Islamic Republic of Iran to the IAEA including those voluntary confidence building measures undertaken, with a view to resolve the remaining issues. They noted the assessment of the IAEA Director-General that all nuclear material declared by Iran had been accounted for. They noted at the same time, that the process for drawing a conclusion with regard to the absence of undeclared material and activities in Iran is an ongoing and time consuming process. In this regard, the Heads of State and Government encouraged Iran to urgently continue to cooperate actively and fully with the IAEA within the Agency's mandate to resolve outstanding issues in order to promote confidence and a peaceful resolution of the issue.

"5- The Heads of State or Government emphasised the fundamental distinction between the legal obligations of States to their respective safeguards agreements and any confidence building measures voluntarily undertaken to resolve difficulties and believed that such voluntary undertakings are not legal safeguards obligations.

"6- The Heads of State or Government considered the establishment of nuclear weapons-free zones (UNWFZs) as a positive step towards attaining the objective of global nuclear disarmament and reiterated the support for the establishment in the Middle East of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in accordance with relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions. Pending the establishment of such a zone, they demanded Israel to accede to the NPT without delay and place promptly all its nuclear facilities under
comprehensive IAEA safeguards.

"7- The Heads of State or Government reaffirmed the inviolability of peaceful nuclear activities and that any attack or threat of attack against peaceful nuclear facilities - operational or under construction- poses a great danger to human beings and the environment, and constitutes a grave violation of international law, principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and regulations of the IAEA. They recognized the need for a comprehensive multilaterally negotiated instrument prohibiting ttacks or threat of attacks on nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

"8- The Heads of State or Government strongly believed that all issues on safeguards and verification, including those of Iran should be resolved within the IAEA framework and be based on technical and legal grounds. They further emphasised that the Agency should continue its work to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue within its mandate under the Statute of the IAEA.

9- The Heads of State or Government also strongly believed that diplomacy and dialogue through peaceful means must continue to find a long term solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. They expressed their conviction that the only way to resolve the issue is to resume negotiations without any preconditions and to enhance cooperation with the involvement of all necessary parties to promote international confidence with the view to facilitating agency work on resolving the outstanding issues."
1394/1414