Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 February 2007
55 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views regarding negotiations being held between Iran and EU3 regarding nuclear proliferation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3930/07]
Amharc ar fhreagra115 Mr. English asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding negotiations between the European Union and the Government of Iran, regarding that country’s nuclear development program; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3947/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 115 together.
There are currently no negotiations under way between the EU3 and Iran. The last discussions to take place were between High Representative Solana, on behalf of the EU3, with lead Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani. They met on a number of occasions in September 2006 but failed to agree an acceptable formula for commencing negotiations on the package of incentives presented to Tehran in June 2006, on behalf of the EU3, the United States, the Russian Federation and China. The EU side was obliged, reluctantly, to conclude that Iran was not at that stage seriously interested in responding to this package.
An important development since then was the unanimous adoption by the United Nations Security Council of Resolution 1737 on 23 December 2006. The Resolution stated that Iran should, inter alia, suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, and requested a compliance report from the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency within 60 days of the Resolution's adoption. This report is awaited. The Resolution also requested all Member States in the meantime to deny Iran any equipment, technology, technical expertise or financial assistance that could contribute to the proliferation of sensitive nuclear activities.
The question of Iran's nuclear programme is kept under constant review within the European Union at official level and is also the subject of regular discussions at Ministerial level. The most recent such discussion was at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting of 21-22 January 2007 in Brussels. At the meeting, the Council welcomed the unanimous adoption of Resolution 1737 as a necessary and proportionate response to Iran's disregard for the concerns of the international community and the Security Council. The question of Iran's nuclear programme is kept under constant review within the European Union at official level and is also the subject of regular discussions at Ministerial level. The most recent such discussion was at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting of 21-22 January 2007 in Brussels. At the meeting, the Council welcomed the unanimous adoption of Resolution 1737 as a necessary and proportionate response to Iran's disregard for the concerns of the international community and the Security Council, and agreed to implement the measures in full. At the same time, the Council reiterated its continuing support for efforts to find a negotiated long-term solution and reaffirmed its support for the proposals presented to Iran in June 2006, which it saw as opening the way for a new relationship with Iran based on mutual respect and expanded cooperation.
