IRAN-NUCLEAR/FABIUS France's Fabius says a robust agreement still not met for Iran deal

Record ID: 148917

  • Title: IRAN-NUCLEAR/FABIUS France's Fabius says a robust agreement still not met for Iran deal
  • Date: 29th June 2015
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JUNE 29, 2015) (REUTERS) WIDE OF FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER LAURENT FABIUS SITTING DOWN AT TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER LAURENT FABIUS, SAYING: "So far as France is concerned, we are in favor of an agreement, but it has to be, what we call, a robust agreement. Why? Because the main issue is about nuclear proliferation.
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2015 13:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVACNNCJ2AJ3OI9P1W6L1FYPJAZY
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: An accord to curb Iran's nuclear program remains elusive due to disagreements on fundamental issues, France's foreign minister said on Monday (June 29) in New York, just a day before the June 30 deadline for a deal.
    Laurent Fabius spoke to reporters at a press event after top U.S. and Iranian diplomats said hard work was still needed for what could be their final negotiations to bridge significant differences.
    "It has to be, what we call, a robust agreement, " Fabius said.
    "Why? Because the main issue is about nuclear proliferation. The question has been raised, what about the Iranians? And you know that has been some concern about their possible military dimension. Therefore what of the aim of the negotiation? The aim is summarized in the beginning of the text we are working on. And 'under no circumstances, Iran will never get nor keep or acquire any nuclear weapons, under no circumstances.' It means that so far as civil nuclear energy is concerned, it's quite okay, no problem. But so far, as the nuclear weapon is concerned, the answer is no."
    For this there were three "indispensable" conditions, he said: A lasting limitation of Iran's research and development capacity, rigorous inspections of sites, including military if needed, and the automatic return of sanctions if Iran violates its commitments.
    The self-imposed deadline for a deal under which Iran would cut back its nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions, expires on Tuesday (June 30).
    The main differences are on the pace and timing of sanctions relief for Iran in return for its steps to restrain its nuclear program and on the nature of monitoring mechanisms to ensure Tehran does not cheat on any agreement.
    U.S. and European negotiators also want to ensure there is a mechanism for restoring U.S., European Union and United Nations sanctions if Tehran fails to meet its commitments under any future accord aimed at ending a 12-year nuclear standoff between Iran and the West.
    The United States, Israel and some Western nations fear that Iran has been trying to develop a nuclear weapons capability but Tehran says its programme is for peaceful purposes only.
    The French foreign minister also hopes to bring the Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table under an international framework, amid growing regional instability.
    "The Israeli-Palestinian question is not solved and it is very dangerous," Fabius said.
    "On the one hand, there is no justice for Palestinians. Where there is no justice, there is no real peace and on the other hand, the security of Israel is not ensured and it's not normal, it's not fair. Today, not many people are speaking about this question, Israeli-Palestinian, but our assessment is that at any moment, it can explode. And if and when it explodes, it's very, very, very problematic. For the whole region and for the world because it's a basic question. And moreover, be careful, because at a moment or another Daesh can interfere with all that."
    U.S.-led efforts to broker peace for a two-state solution collapsed in April 2014 and leaders on both sides have since been weakened politically.
    But with the region's crises worsening and Washington reassessing its options on U.S.-Israel relations, France sees a narrow window to resume negotiations.
    Fabius explored the prospects for talks with key Arab League ministers last week.
    "It's very difficult for each party to make the last concessions, which make it possible to have a conclusion," he said.
    "We think that an international body, including the Arabs, which is not the case today with the Quartet because they are not in, whether they have proposed the plan in 2002, which is interesting, it could be an idea in order to facilitate the solution. Not to impose, because obviously the negotiation has to be considered by the parties, but to help."
    Paris hopes to persuade the Arab states, the European Union and U.N. Security Council members to pressure both sides to make compromises that neither wants to make alone.
    France has so far focused with the Arab states on a possible U.N. Security Council resolution that would set negotiating parameters and establish a time period, possibly 18 months, to complete talks.
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