- Title: JAPAN: U.N. nuclear chief not optimistic on Iran nuclear talks
- Date: 11th January 2013
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (JANUARY 11, 2013) (REUTERS) DIRECTOR GENERAL OF INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA) YUKIYA AMANO WALKING INTO NEWS CONFERENCE AMANO SEATED PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) DIRECTOR GENERAL OF INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY YUKIYA AMANO SAYING: "The negotiations with Iran are always difficult. A step forward doesn't guarantee another step forward, rather two or three steps backward often follows." NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) DIRECTOR GENERAL OF INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY YUKIYA AMANO SAYING: "I cannot be optimistic about whether we will get to an agreement." JOURNALISTS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) DIRECTOR GENERAL OF INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY YUKIYA AMANO SAYING: "IAEA conducts a critical role in inspecting North Korea's nuclear programme, so I hope we can send our agents as soon as possible. What is needed for this is the political negotiation among countries involved in this issue." NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) DIRECTOR GENERAL OF INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY YUKIYA AMANO SAYING: "Japan is a powerful country and it's nuclear power policy would affect the rest of the world significantly. In that, I hope the Japanese government determines its policy course in a comprehensive and long-term perspectives and upon discussions with other countries." VARIOUS OF AMANO STANDING UP
- Embargoed: 26th January 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAA18SX0QJ50EVUG0NDDM6J26Y0
- Story Text: The chief of the United Nations nuclear agency said on Friday (January 11) that he could not be optimistic about talks with Iran next week on getting access to a military base Western powers suspect is being used for atomic-weapons related work.
"The negotiations with Iran are always difficult. A step forward doesn't guarantee another step forward, rather two or three steps backward often follows," Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in Tokyo.
He was referring to talks to be held next week on getting access to the Parchin military base and officials involved in Iran's disputed nuclear programme.
"I cannot be optimistic about whether we will get to an agreement," he added.
Western powers say Iran is trying to develop the capability to make atomic weapons, a charge the Islamic Republic denies.
Both the IAEA and Tehran have said progress was achieved at a meeting in December towards an agreement the Vienna-based U.N. agency says would allow it to resume a long-stalled inquiry into suspected atom bomb research in Iran.
A year ago, the IAEA published a report about research in Iran that could be relevant for nuclear weapons, including suspected high-explosive experiments at the Parchin military site southeast of Tehran, and possible work on designing a device to produce a burst of neutrons for setting off a fission chain reaction.
Amano said in November that the IAEA had made no progress in a year-long push to find out if Iran was working on developing an atomic bomb.
The head of U.N. watchdog also called for more political efforts in North Korea by encouraging countries to resume the IAEA surveillance over the reclusive country's nuclear facilities.
"IAEA conducts a critical role in inspecting North Korea's nuclear programme, so I hope we can send our agents as soon as possible. What is needed for this is the political negotiation among countries involved in this issue," Amano said.
The IAEA report released in November said North Korea had made further progress in the construction of a new atomic reactor, a facility that may extend the country's capacity to produce material for nuclear bombs.
North Korea was the first country to withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2003 and has denied IAEA access to its atomic sites.
Amano also called for a long and wide view on Japan's nuclear energy policies.
"Japan is a powerful country and it's nuclear power policy would affect the rest of the world significantly. In that, I hope the Japanese government determines its policy course in a comprehensive and long-term perspectives and upon discussions with other countries," Amano said.
All 50 working commercial reactors in Japan were taken off line for safety checks following the earthquake and tsunami that triggered meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in the worst nuclear accident in a quarter of a century. Two units were brought back on line amid a nationwide anti-nuclear movement.
The new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who rose to power in December vowed to review its predecessor's policy of phasing out nuclear power in Japan by 2040. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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