Soltanieh: Iran exercised self-restraint, good will to remove ambiguities
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Vienna, Nov 23, IRNA
Iran-Nuclear-Soltanieh
Iran's IAEA envoy Ali-Asghar Soltanieh said here that Iran has exercised self restraint and good will in removing ambiguities and allegations against its peaceful nuclear activities and it has taken confidence building measures, even beyond its legal obligations.
In a speech to the IAEA before the Board of Governors Agenda item 3(d), Soltanieh said based on legal and technical facts, the resolution of the Board of Governors (GOV/2006/14 of 4 February 2006) had no legal basis to convey Iran's nuclear issue to UN Security Council.
"Thus the resolutions by the UN Security Council based on this resolution has no legal basis too," he made it clear.
Full text of Soltanieh's speech to the IAEA Board of Governors reads as follows:
"In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
"Mr. Chairman
"At the outset I would like to congratulate you for the assumption of this post and to assure you the full cooperation of my delegation.
I would also like to associate myself to the statement made by distinguished Ambassador of Cuba on behalf of Non-Align Movement. My Government appreciates the countries of Non-Align Movement for their valuable support on Iranian nuclear program.
"Mr. Chairman
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has exercised self restraint and good will in removing ambiguities and allegations against its peaceful nuclear activities and it has taken confidence building measures, even beyond its legal obligations, while cooperating with the IAEA and other countries. Given the fact that Iran does not have any concern about the full transparency of its nuclear activities, it made agreement with the Agency for the resolution of the outstanding issues as reflected in document INFCIRC/711 on 21 August 2007.
"Conduction of more than 2500 man-day inspections, voluntary suspension of all activities related to enrichment, voluntary implementation of additional protocol for about 2.5 years, granting full and unrestricted access to all nuclear material and facilities, even access to military sites, as well as nuclear initiative made by the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the United Nations General Assembly on the establishment of a joint venture between Iran and other countries in the area of uranium enrichment in Iran, are clear indications of efforts made by Islamic Republic of Iran aimed at full transparency and cooperation.
"Unfortunately Iran has received inappropriate and unfair response to such constructive approach. Few countries, with political motivations raised baseless allegations, tried to derail the verification process of the issue from its technical and legal track and to impose political pressure on the IAEA through the UN Security Council, in order to deprive the Islamic Republic of Iran from its inalienable right for peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Reviewing the statements made by these countries at the previous Board of Governors, reveals the fact that they conveyed the Iran's nuclear issue to the UN Security Council and requested the suspension Iran's enrichment activities under the pretext of inconsistency of Iran's declaration on chronology of P-1 and P-2 centrifuges, plutonium separation, uranium metal document and reprocessing activities.
"Now based on the report of the Director General it is proved that all Iran's past declarations are consistent with the findings of the IAEA. The Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently declared that referring the issue to UN Security Council does not have any legal and technical basis. The Director General has once again informed the international community of the fact that there is no evidence of diversion of nuclear material and activities to the military purposes and he confirmed that the Agency continues to be able to verify non-diversion.
"Mr. Chairman,
"I hereby have to put on record of the following facts:
The Agency could refer the nuclear issue of a Member States to the United Nations Security Council if the following provisions of the Statute and Safeguards Agreement is realized:
"A- In accordance with Article 12-C of the Statute, Inspectors shall report any non- compliance to the Director General who shall thereupon transmit the report to the Board of Governors;
"B-The Agency declares that it is unable to continue its verification activities in the country;
"C- Evidence of diversion of nuclear material and activities to military purposes are found and reported by inspectors.
"Note: None of the above mentioned provisions is applicable to Iran based on all reports by the Director General.
"I would further inform the Board of Governors that:
"1- In all Agency's documents including in all relating resolutions of the Board of Governors, the suspension of Iran's enrichment activities was considered as " voluntary, non legally binding and confidence building measure".
"2- It has to be recalled that the Director General has once again reported that there is no evidence of reprocessing activities in Iran.
"This clearly questions the technical and legal bases of the resolutions of the Board of Governors and UN Security Council demanding Iran to suspend the activities which do not exist.
"It is worth mentioning that the issue of unfounded reprocessing activities has been a pretext for putting undue pressure on Iran by few western countries for last four years.
"Therefore based on above mentioned these legal and technical facts, the resolution of the Board of Governors (GOV/2006/14 of 4 February 2006) had no legal basis to convey Iran's nuclear issue to UN Security Council. Thus the resolutions by the UN Security Council based on this resolution has no legal basis too.
"Mr. Chairman
"In spite of the fact that few western countries with political motivation has created the dead lock and stopped negotiations, and involved the UN Security Council, Iran once again with the good will made a new initiative for the resolution of outstanding issues which was considered by the Director General as a significant step forward and welcomed by the international community at large.
"In accordance with the work plan an exhausted list of outstanding issues including research on plutonium, P-1/P-2 centrifuge, source of contamination, uranium metal document, Po-210 and Gachin mine was submitted to Iran by the Agency. Considering the past experiences with the IAEA in dealing such technical issues it was agreed by both sides that instead of putting all issues on table without prioritization, to address them in a sequential manner with well defined time table, so that each issue will be on agenda provided that the previous one is concluded and its file is closed. On the basis of the work plan the Agency is to provide all its questions to Iran where the responses will be accordingly given by Iran within the timeframe.
"As the Director General clearly reported to the Board of Governors, Iran has facilitated the required access and provided supporting documents and responses with full cooperation. As an example of its political will, Iran accepted to resolve the issue of plutonium research proactively even prior to the conclusion negotiation on work plan.
"It has to be recalled that during the last four years US has continuously tried to make a political issue and declared "threat of Iran's plutonium nuclear weapon". As regards to the second issue that is P1/P2 centrifuges issues several technical meetings were held with active participation of Iranian and the Agency's experts. As the results of intensive investigations and verification the Director General reported that Iran's declarations on the past activities are consistent with the Agency's findings.
"In fact based on this report the most important issue related to Iran's past nuclear activities is concluded and closed. Therefore allegations on Iran's clandestine and non-peaceful activities are now proved to be baseless. The next issue in the work plan is the uranium metal document. In order to prove its good intention and proactive attitude towards the Agency, Iran provided a copy of the document on 8th November 2007 that is much sooner than indicated in the work plan.
"The Director General in his report confirmed that the Agency had found no evidence of re-conversion and casting activities, which is the subject of this document, in Iran. In accordance with the work plan the issue of uranium metal document is now closed. It has to be reiterated that in spite of the agreement originally made to merely deal with past issues, Iran voluntarily accepted to also deal with present issues. It started negotiation on two important legally binding documents namely Safeguard Approach and Facility Attachment on Natanz enrichment facility. The Facility Attachment is entered into force since 30th September 2007. This provided sufficient assurance for the Agency's verification on enrichment activities for present and future in Iran.
"Mr. Chairman
"The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to seriously implement the Work Plan and has confidence that within this framework the three remaining outstanding issues will be accordingly resolved. Any development or measure outside of the framework of the IAEA undermining the authority and professionalism of the Agency, will undoubtedly have negative impact on this constructive process and puts the continuation of this trend in jeopardy. It is worth to recall that the more Iran cooperated with the Agency since 2003, implementing extended voluntary and confidence building measures, it was faced with the harsher response and tougher resolutions proposed by certain countries. The unfriendly and unjustified attitude and conduct forced Iran to change the course of action. It has been proved to the whole world that the policy carrot and stick and the language of threat and sanction would be counter productive and further complicate the situation.
"Mr. Chairman
"While the Islamic Republic of Iran continues its full cooperation with the IAEA, it also follows the track of negotiation, without any precondition, with the other countries aiming at removing ambiguities and promoting cooperation through dialogue and negotiation in order to achieve peaceful solution. In this context I am pleased to inform that the next round of negotiation between H. E. Dr. Jalili, the Secretary of Supreme National Council and H. E. Dr. Solana, Foreign Policy Chief of the European Union, will be held on 30 November 2007.
"Mr. Chairman
"In conclusion, based on above mentioned facts and the lessons learned, Member States of the Agency are expected to fully support the new constructive and cooperative process and let the Work Plan continue to be implemented without obstacles, so that the three remaining outstanding issues will also be concluded and closed, and accordingly the Agency Safeguards will implementation in Iran in routine manner.
"Thank you very much for your attention."
**1420
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