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Nuclear Disarmament Initiative

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2010

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Ceisteanna (55, 56, 57, 58)

John Perry

Ceist:

61 Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on discussion at EU level on possible sanctions on Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29589/10]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

71 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to claims that Iran is to begin nuclear talks with Turkey and Brazil, nations which have voted against a sanctions resolution at the United Nations Security Council; the implications such a development will have for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29652/10]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

391 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he and his EU or UN colleagues have engaged with the authorities in Iran with particular reference to addressing the nuclear threat and human rights issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30173/10]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

392 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he directly or in conjunction with the international community has focused on Iran, with particular reference to the need to encourage peaceful coexistence and mutual respect in the region. [30174/10]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 71, 391 and 392 together.

The issue of Iran and the major international concerns regarding its nuclear programme was discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 14 June, which I attended. Discussion focussed on appropriate follow-up by the EU to the new UN Security Council Resolution 1929 which had been adopted on 9 June and which imposes further sanctions against Iran in light of its continuing non-compliance with previous UN Security Council and IAEA Resolutions. Conclusions were agreed welcoming the adoption of Resolution 1929 and reiterating the Council's support for a negotiated solution and for the continuing efforts of High Representative Ashton to engage in direct negotiations with Iran on its nuclear programme as well as on other important international issues.

I briefed colleagues at the Council on the discussions which I had had with Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki during the course of a recent visit to Dublin. I emphasised that my message to Foreign Minister Mottaki on the nuclear issue had been very firm and clear and that I had strongly encouraged Iran to engage with High Representative Ashton on this and other matters. I also briefed on the discussions which I had had with Foreign Minister Mottaki on human rights issues and the Middle East Peace Process.

The Foreign Affairs Council of 14 June also considered and agreed a draft Declaration on Iran which was subsequently adopted at the European Council meeting in Brussels on 17 June. The Declaration underlined the EU's deepening concerns about Iran's nuclear programme and, in welcoming the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1929, invites the Foreign Affairs Council to adopt accompanying EU restrictive measures which would focus on the areas of trade, the financial sector, the transport sector, key sectors of the gas and oil industry and new visa bans and asset freezes, especially in relation to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

The European Council Declaration made clear that these additional EU restrictive measures were necessary because Iran had consistently failed to avail of the many opportunities which had been offered to it to remove the concerns of the international community over the nature of its nuclear programme. Indeed, the decision by Iran to enrich uranium to the level of 20 per cent, contrary to its international obligations under existing UN Security Council and IAEA Resolutions, had further increased these concerns. In this regard, I particularly note the last report of the IAEA of 31 May and the concerns which it clearly identified.

The European Council Declaration also welcomed the recent efforts by Brazil and Turkey to secure progress on the Tehran Research Reactor agreement proposed to Iran by the IAEA in October 2009. As I made clear at my meeting with Foreign Minister Mottaki on 9 June, the tripartite agreement reached between Iran, Brazil and Turkey in Tehran on 17 May, while welcome, essentially constituted a confidence-building measure rather than addressing the core issues arising in relation to Iran's nuclear activities. The involvement of Turkey and Brazil in negotiating this agreement with Iran was no doubt a contributory factor to the decision of both countries to vote subsequently against Resolution 1929 which was otherwise adopted with twelve votes in favour and one abstention by Lebanon. Foreign Minister Amorim of Brazil has indicated that he does not envisage any future role for his country in relation to negotiations on the Tehran Research Reactor.

As the European Council Declaration made clear, Ireland and our EU partners remain fully committed to working for a diplomatic solution of the issue of Iran's nuclear programme. The door to diplomatic engagement remains open and it is very much in Iran's own interests to walk through it and to take up the offer of serious negotiations with High Representative Ashton. Ireland will also continue working with our EU partners to ensure that any accompanying EU measures agreed and adopted in the coming weeks will focus on those within the regime who are driving forward the nuclear programme and will seek to avoid penalising the Iranian people at large.

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