Paul Connaughton
Ceist:34 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts being made to negotiate with Iran on issues of nuclear development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13495/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 28 April 2005
Ceisteanna (55)
Freagraí scríofa
The issue of Iran and its nuclear development programme has been followed closely at European level over the past two years since Iran's undeclared nuclear programme was first brought to the attention of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA. Negotiations in Paris between Iran and France, Germany and the UK, supported by the High Representative for the common foreign and security policy, resulted in an agreement in November 2004 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 provided for negotiations on a long-term agreement which will cover political and security issues; technology and co-operation; and nuclear issues.
The European Council last December welcomed this agreement and underlined that sustaining the full suspension of all enrichment related and reprocessing activities was essential for the continuation of the overall process. It supported further efforts with a view to reaching an agreement on long-term arrangements. The European Council confirmed its earlier conclusions on the resumption of the negotiations on a trade and co-operation agreement after verification of suspension. The European Council also confirmed the Union's readiness to explore ways to further develop political and economic co-operation with Iran, following action by Iran to address other areas of concern of the EU regarding the fight against terrorism, human rights and Iran's approach to the Middle East peace process.
A steering committee to launch these negotiations met for the first time in December 2004 and established working groups on political and security issues, technology and co-operation, and nuclear issues. Under the terms of the Paris agreement, the steering committee receives progress reports from the working groups and identifies projects and-or measures that can be implemented in advance of an overall agreement. The working groups met most recently on 19 April in Geneva and the steering committee is scheduled to meet again on 29 April in London.
At the meeting of the IAEA board of governors last March, France, Germany and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement in which they gave their preliminary assessment of the negotiations with Iran. They indicated that the negotiations have allowed for an extensive exchange of views, notably on ways to provide objective guarantees that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes, as stipulated in the Paris agreement.
The two sides have also discussed long-term arrangements for co-operation between the EU and Iran in the political and security area, as well as in the economic and technological field. They have also explored the prospects for possible international co-operation in connection with Iran's nuclear programme. The discussions were said to have been conducted in a constructivespirit of open and serious exchanges and that while much progress remains to be made, they represent encouraging steps towards working out long-term arrangements, as foreseen in the Paris agreement.
The statement went on to express satisfaction with the progress reported by the IAEA in its investigations but also expressed regret at some developments which could undermine confidence. These included Iran's failure to report excavation work at one of the sites under investigation and limitations placed on the scope of visits by IAEA inspectors. In reiterating their commitment to the negotiation process, France, Germany and the United Kingdom stressed that it is essential that confidence be maintained through the continued implementation in good faith of all aspects of the Paris agreement.