Written answers

Tuesday, 8 March 2005

Department of Foreign Affairs

Nuclear Weapons Programme

8:00 pm

Photo of Jim O'KeeffeJim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 68: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the latest discussions that have taken place between the European Union and Iran relating to the development of a nuclear capability by Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7599/05]

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 79: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Irish and European position towards the existing situation which pertains in Iran with regard to the threat of nuclear weapons being developed in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7733/05]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 79 together.

Ireland and its EU partners share the widespread international concern about Iran's development of its nuclear programme, in particular its uranium enrichment component. It has been more than two years since Iran's undeclared nuclear programme was first brought to the attention of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, and the director general of the agency has presented seven written reports on the subject since June 2003. The latest such report was discussed at the meeting of the IAEA board of governors which took place in Vienna in November 2004.

A resolution on Iran, adopted by consensus at that meeting, underlined the importance of Iran extending full and prompt co-operation to the director general in his investigations into the remaining outstanding issues identified in the report, in particular the origin of uranium contamination found at various locations in the country and the extent of Iran's efforts to import, manufacture and use certain types of centrifuges.

Negotiations between Iran and France, Germany and the United Kingdom, supported by the EU high representative, are being carried out in accordance with the terms of the Paris agreement of November 2004. Under this agreement, Iran, inter alia, reaffirmed that it does not and will not seek to acquire nuclear weapons and committed itself to full transparency and co-operation with the IAEA. Moreover, it decided to voluntarily suspend all enrichment and reprocessing activities and to invite the IAEA to verify and to monitor the suspension. The agreement further provided for negotiations on a long-term agreement which will cover political and security issues, technology and co-operation, and nuclear issues, work on which commenced in December 2004.

The European Council of December 2004 welcomed this agreement and underlined that sustaining the full suspension of all enrichment related and reprocessing activities was essential for the continuation of the overall process. It supported further efforts with a view to reaching an agreement on long-term arrangements. The European Council confirmed its earlier conclusions on the resumption of the negotiations on a trade and co-operation agreement after verification of suspension. It also confirmed the Union's readiness to explore ways to further develop political and economic co-operation with Iran, following action by Iran to address other areas of concern of the EU regarding the fight against terrorism, human rights and Iran's approach to the Middle East peace process.

A steering committee to launch these negotiations met in December 2004 and established working groups on political and security issues, technology and co-operation, and nuclear issues. Those working groups met most recently last month and their work is ongoing. Under the terms of the Paris agreement, the steering committee will meet again by early next month to receive progress reports from the working groups and to move ahead with projects and/or measures that can be implemented in advance of an overall agreement.

The IAEA board of governors was briefed last week in Vienna on the agency's ongoing verification work with regard to Iran, which is continuing in parallel to the negotiations with Iran. Issues covered included Iran's centrifuge programme, the origin of particle contamination of some components and Iran's suspension of enrichment activities, as provided for in the Paris agreement.

At the meeting of the board, France, Germany and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement, in which they gave their preliminary assessment of the negotiations with Iran to date. They indicated that the negotiations have allowed for an extensive exchange of views, notably on ways to provide objective guarantees that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes, as stipulated in the Paris agreement. The two sides have also discussed long-term arrangements for co-operation between the EU and Iran in the political and security area, as well as the economic and technological field. They have also explored the prospects for possible international co-operation in connection with Iran's nuclear programme. The discussions were said to have been conducted in a constructive spirit of open and serious exchanges and that while much progress remains to be made, they represent encouraging steps towards working out long-term arrangements, as foreseen in the Paris agreement.

The statement went on to express satisfaction with the progress reported by the IAEA in its investigations but also expressed regret at some developments which could undermine confidence. These included Iran's failure to report excavation work at one of the sites under investigation and limitations placed on the scope of visits by IAEA inspectors. In reiterating their commitment to the negotiation process signed in Paris, France, Germany and the United Kingdom stressed that it is essential that confidence be maintained through the continued implementation in good faith of all aspects of the Paris agreement.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.