Governor to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors at
the IAEA Board of Governors meeting, Vienna
13 June 2007
Agenda item 6: Nuclear verification
Implementation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement
and relevant provisions of Security Council resolutions 1 737 (2006) and 1 747
(2007) in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Chairperson,
At the outset, my delegation fully associates itself with the statement made
by the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on this agenda item.
Chairperson,
My delegation thanks the Director-General, Dr Mohammed ElBaradei, for his
report on the "Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and Relevant
Provisions of Security Council Resolutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran", as
contained in document Gov/2007/22.
South Africa wishes to reiterate its sincere appreciation to the
Director-General and the agency staff for their continued highly professional,
objective and unbiased approach to resolve the outstanding issues related to
Iran's nuclear programme, in accordance with the ongoing verification
activities.
Chairperson,
South Africa has carefully studied the Director-General's latest report and
notes that the Agency is able to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear
material in Iran, and that the Agency is implementing a modified safeguards
approach for Iran's Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP), which include monthly
inspections and design information verification visits as well as unannounced
inspections and containment and surveillance measures.
We commend Iran for this co-operative approach in implementing its
obligations in terms of its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, and encourage
Iran to continue and expand such co-operation. South Africa also welcomes the
information provided in the report that there are no indications of
reprocessing activities at those sites referred to in the report.
Chairperson,
As all members of the IAEA are aware and as stated two weeks ago in
Parliament by South Africa's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr N Dlamini Zuma,
the evolving confrontation between the big powers and Iran over its peaceful
use of nuclear energy has escalated in recent months and the matter has
effectively been shifted to the United Nations Security Council from the Board
of Governors.
Chairperson,
My Minister added that not only has the co-operation between Iran and the
Board deteriorated, but South Africa has consistently warned that taking the
matter to the Security Council from the IAEA involves serious risks of
escalating confrontation which could easily spiral into a dangerous situation
for the region and the world and it also involves the risk of reducing the
verification of the role of the Agency. This would in effect mean that the
international community would have no authoritative and verified information
about the precise scale and nature of Iran's nuclear programme.
Chairperson,
My Minister added that it is therefore not a surprise that the
Director-General's report continues to indicate that Iran has not implemented
the key requirements of the relevant United Nations Security Council
resolutions on suspending enrichment-related activities, and has not suspended
work on all heavy water-related projects, including construction of the
research reactor moderated by heavy water at Arak (IR-40), but in fact have
expanded them.
South Africa is concerned that Iran continues to put additional restrictions
and limitations on the Agency's verification activities including the Agency's
right to re-verify design information at Arak. This is regrettable, and Iran
should comply with the legally binding obligations of the United Nation
Security Council resolutions.
Furthermore, it is also of concern that no progress has been made on
resolving the long outstanding issues related to uranium contamination, and
acquisition of centrifuge technology.
My Minister also said that South Africa shares the concern of the Agency
that due to a lack of information received from Iran, the Agency's overall
level of knowledge of certain aspects of Iran's nuclear related activities has
deteriorated. South Africa views this situation with a sense of deep concern,
as this means that the international community would have no authoritative and
verified information about the precise scale and nature of Iran's nuclear
programme, thereby further eroding confidence and contributing to the
escalation of confrontation.
South Africa therefore calls on Iran to reconsider its decision not to
provide information to the Agency under the Additional Protocol and initiate
steps, including allowing access to declared facilities to enable the Agency to
undertake design verification visits, which would ensure that the Agency's
knowledge base of Iran's nuclear related activities is enhanced and do not
deteriorate further.
Chairperson,
As stated by Minister Dlamini Zuma, and I quote: "At every point we have
called for dialogue and negotiations, and in the current crisis, encourage all
parties to spare no effort to seek a comprehensive and sustainable solution.
South Africa will continue to encourage all parties concerned to enter into a
dialogue and negotiations in order to seek a comprehensive and sustainable
solution. South Africa and the international community do not wish to see Iran
develop nuclear weapons, but equally we do not want to see war over Iran's
nuclear programme".
Chairperson,
South Africa recalls that in May 2007, we as Member States participated in
the first preparatory meeting for the 2010 NPT Review conference and called for
the elimination of all nuclear weapons. We also insisted, as before, that
developing countries, including South Africa, cannot be denied their right to
peaceful nuclear technology as provided for in the NPT.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has the opportunity now to demonstrate and
reassure the international community that all aspects of its nuclear programme
are peaceful. South Africa calls on Iran to use every opportunity to resolve
the few remaining outstanding issues with the Agency and to restore the
international community's belief that its nuclear programme is peaceful.
In conclusion, Chairperson, South Africa encourages all parties to refrain
from any actions that would lead to a further deterioration of the crisis. We
also believe that we need to seize the opportunities provided through
innovative leadership, which the Director-General is also providing, in order
to find an early solution to the growing crisis, which could deteriorate
sharply and result in a major catastrophe that would be disastrous for all
concerned.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
13 June 2007
