Nkosazana Dlamini Zumaâs remarks after meeting with the United States of
Americaâs Secretary of State, Dr Condoleezza Rice, at the US State Department,
Washington DC
11 January 2006
Question: Asked on what they discussed with the Secretary of State, Dr
Condoleezza Rice on Iran
Answer: Minister Dlamini Zuma responded by stating that as widely reported,
Iran has decided to break the seals and continue (with their enrichment
programme), "so (we - Dr Zuma and Dr Rice) were reflecting on what that means
and obviously the decision would have to be taken by the Board of Governors
(BoG) so, there may be a meeting of the BoG to see how they react to that
situation".
Question: Followâup question on how the negotiations process should unfold
and the role that South Africa should play in assisting in the resolution.
Answer: Minister Dlamini Zuma indicated that "Well, it (such a decision)
would have to be on very clear terms of where we are going and how we get
there, but we have been supporting the negotiations with the European Union
(EU), maybe those negotiations should continueâ.
Question: Do you think Iran should be referred to the United Nations
Security Council (UNSC)? Do you think there should be an emergency meeting of
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)?
Answer: Minister Dlamini Zuma said: "I donât want to prejudge what the BoG
would decide, but the BoG would look at all the facts and obviously all the
conditions and take appropriate decisions.â
Question: Do you think the talks have reached a dead end in terms of their
usefulness?
Answer: âWell, I think even if it goes to the UNSC, the talks would still
have to continue. So I think talking cannot stop, even because even if the
matter goes to the UNSC, either way discussions must continue in or outside
there.â
Question: But given the fruitlessness of the talks thus far does South
Africa think that sanctions should be taken to Iran?
Answer: Well, South Africa as you know is a country that believes in
multilateralism. We participate in the BoG, so obviously we will be
participating there and we will support the collective decisions that will be
taken by the BoG.
Question: But do you think that Iran has crossed the red line?
Answer: Well, I think they have broken some of the agreements that they had
reached with the EU, even though it was a voluntary moratorium, but of course
it was part of the EU Agreements.
Question: Do you have good relations with Iran, will you pressure them to
take a different route?
Answer: Well, we have been talking to Iran, we have been talking to the EU,
we will participate in the Board, we will continue, but we donât necessarily
have a big influence on anybody.
Further reiterating earlier principles mentioned, Minister Dlamini Zuma
emphasised that SA believes in the multilateral system so clearly if a Board
took a collective decision, SA would be part of that collective decision, so "I
wouldnât like to prejudge what will happen."
On Zimbabwe:
When asked whether the meeting between Dr Zuma and Dr Rice discussed
Zimbabwe:
Answer: Minister Dlamini Zuma responded by stating that "It didnât actually,
(Zimbabwe as an issue did not arise) we didnât discuss it, no, noâ¦. we
discussed Iran, Sudan, United Nations reforms, so we didnât only focus on Iran,
but we didnât discuss Zimbabweâ.
Question: Did Madame Secretary say that there might be an emergency meeting,
perhaps in two weeksâ time, convened by the BoG on Iran?
Answer: Well she didnât put any time frames, but she just said there would
have to be a meeting of the BoG, but she didnât say exactly when.
Thank you!
Enquiries: Nomfanelo Kota
Cell: 082 459 3787
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
11 January 2005
