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Nuclear Disarmament Initiative.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 November 2004

Wednesday, 24 November 2004

Questions (62)

Enda Kenny

Question:

38 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the work at European level being undertaken to ensure that Iran suspends potential weapons related to nuclear activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30036/04]

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Written answers

It has been more than two years since Iran's undeclared nuclear programme was first brought to the attention of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, and the director general of the agency has presented six written reports since June 2003. The latest report is to be discussed at the next meeting of the IAEA board of governors which begins in Vienna on 25 November.

The issue has been followed closely at European level throughout this time. At its most recent meeting on 4-5 November 2004, the European Council underlined the importance it attached to building confidence in the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme and the need for transparency and compliance with IAEA board of governors' resolutions. The Council stressed that a full and sustained suspension of all enrichment and reprocessing activities, on a voluntary basis, would open the door for talks on long-term co-operation offering mutual benefits. The Council also confirmed that the European Union and its member states would remain actively engaged "notably through the efforts of France, Germany and the United Kingdom and the High Representative for the CFSP" with the objective of achieving progress on the Iranian nuclear issue before the IAEA board of governors' meeting later this month.

These efforts have since resulted in an agreement with Iran on nuclear issues and future co-operation. Under this agreement, Iran, inter alia, reaffirmed that it does not and will not seek to acquire nuclear weapons and committed itself to full transparency and co-operation with the IAEA. Iran, moreover, decided to voluntarily suspend all enrichment and reprocessing activities and to invite the IAEA to verify and to monitor the suspension. The agreement further provides for negotiations to begin in the first half of next month on a long-term agreement which will cover political and security issues, technology and co-operation, and nuclear issues. Iran’s commitment to sustaining the suspension, while these negotiations are under way, is stated in the agreement to be essential for the continuation of the overall process.

The General Affairs and External Relations Council, earlier this week, welcomed Iran's decision to suspend fully all enrichment and reprocessing activities and to sustain this suspension while negotiations on long-term arrangements are under way. The Council underlined the importance of these arrangements which will have to provide for objective guarantees that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes and affirmed its willingness to work towards a positive outcome.

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