Governor to the IAEA Board of Governors at the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting
Vienna
22 November 2007
Agenda item 4 (c): Nuclear Verification: Implementation of the
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement and relevant provisions of
Security Council resolutions 1737 (2006) and 1747 (2007) in the Islamic
Republic of Iran.
Chairperson,
At the outset, my delegation fully associates itself with the statement made
on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement on this agenda item. My delegation thanks
the Director General, Mohammed ElBaradei for his factual report on the
"Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of
Iran", as contained in document GOV/2007/58, as well as his remarks on this
subject in his opening statement today.
South Africa reiterates its appreciation to the Director General and the
Agency staff for their continued highly professional, objective and unbiased
approach to resolve the remaining few outstanding issues related to Iran's
nuclear programme, in accordance with the ongoing verification activities.
Chairperson,
Since our previous meeting, the Islamic Republic of Iran has continued its
co-operation with the Agency to resolve the outstanding issues in accordance
with the Work Plan agreed with the Agency.
South Africa notes from the Director General's latest report that the Agency
continues to be able to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material
in Iran and has provided the Agency with access to declared nuclear material,
and has provided the required nuclear material accountancy reports in
connection with declared nuclear material and activities.
It is further encouraging that in accordance with the agreed timeframe of
the Work Plan, Iran concluded a Facility Attachment for the Fuel enrichment
Plant (FEP) at Natanz, which entered into force on 30 September 2007. South
Africa welcomes Iran's co-operation in providing additional supporting
documentation and written amplifications and interviews with Iranian officials
involved in nuclear activities in the 1980s and 1990s, in relation to the
centrifuge enrichment programme. The information gained from these documents
and interviews will provide a better picture of Iranâs past nuclear activities,
which would greatly contribute to the Agencyâs endeavours in this regard.
Chairperson,
South Africa is of the view that the Islamic Republic of Iran has
demonstrated its commitment to solve the outstanding questions in accordance
with the Work Plan. South Africa therefore welcomes Iran's co-operation with
the Agency, and we encourage Iran to proactively intensify its co-operation to
ensure that all issues identified are indeed resolved as agreed upon with the
Agency.
Although resolving the outstanding issues would contribute to building
confidence in Iran's past nuclear activities, it is essential that Iran also
builds confidence in its present and future nuclear programme. Importantly, the
Agency must be able to provide assurances regarding the absence of undeclared
nuclear material and activities in Iran. It is therefore important, as
requested by the board, that Iran implement transparency measures which extend
beyond the formal requirements of the Safeguards Agreement and Additional
Protocol.
South Africa further believes that, as stated by the Director General that
"given the special history of Iran's nuclear programme, it would be
indispensable for Iran to ratify and bring into force its Additional Protocol,
as called for by the Security Council and the Board."
Chairperson,
On 10 October 2007, the second Ministerial Troika of the South African and
the European Union Strategic Partnership took place in South Africa. The
meeting was co-chaired by Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Minister of Foreign Affairs
of South Africa, and LuÃs Amado, Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of
Portugal for the European Union (EU) Presidency. The Ministers issued a joint
communiqué in which, and I quote: "The Ministers expressed their commitment to
finding a diplomatic solution to the Iranian crisis, guided by the decisions
taken by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors and
in line with the relevant United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions.
They also recalled the E3+3 offer of June 2006. Ministers encouraged all
Parties concerned to enter into a dialogue and negotiations in order to seek a
comprehensive and sustainable solution. Ministers supported the calls for a
'double time-out' of all enrichment related activities and of sanctions,
thereby providing a window of opportunity for the resumption of these
negotiations. South Africa encouraged all Parties to refrain from any actions
that would hinder the implementation of the understanding reached and the
continuation of co-operation between the IAEA and Iran."
Unquote
In conclusion Chairperson,
We as Members of the Board are fully aware of the relevant Security Council
resolutions, which outlined certain corrective measures to be taken by Iran to
address these outstanding questions related to its nuclear programme. The
Islamic Republic of Iran has a unique opportunity to demonstrate to the
international community the truly peaceful nature of its nuclear programme
through the full implementation of these measures as outlined in the
resolutions.
Through the innovative leadership of the Director General, he has placed us
on the right path to finally resolve the issues surrounding Iran's nuclear
programme. We have a last opportunity to make important progress in the
following weeks, which would ensure that the Board's confidence can be restored
in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme. It is important
that the Agency should be allowed in the coming weeks to finalise its work in
accordance with the Work Plan and without undue interference and artificial
deadlines. Furthermore, we should support the work of the Agency and ensure
that this process should be allowed to proceed unhindered.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is therefore urged to utilise this window of
opportunity that the Work Plan provides to resolve all the outstanding
questions and issues with the Agency without delay. Through such a course of
action we will place ourselves on the path of peace and reconciliation.
I thank you
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
22 November 2007
