AUSTRIA: HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY MOHAMMED ALBARADEI SAYS CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES ARE NEEDED IN IRAN

Record ID: 646879

  • Title: AUSTRIA: HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY MOHAMMED ALBARADEI SAYS CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES ARE NEEDED IN IRAN
  • Date: 11th March 2004
  • Summary: (W4) VIENNA, AUSTRIA (MARCH 10, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. MV SECURITY MEN IN INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA) CORRIDOR 0.05 2. MV IAEA HEAD MOHAMMED ELBARADEI AT PODIUM 0.14 3. SV IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N. PIROOZ HOSSEINI TALKING TO REPORTERS 0.18 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N. PIROOZ HOSSEINI SAYING "We think that a lot of bullying is involved here by the Americans to subdue a healthy process here. We think that Americans do not want to accept the fact that Iran is not for a nuclear weapons programme, is not looking after a nuclear weapons programme. This is a fact and as I said, they don't want to accept the fact." 1.04 5. HOSSEINI WITH REPORTERS 1.07 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N. PIROOZ HOSSEINI SAYING "Unfortunately, as I said, the, too much pressure, unconstructive pressure, by the Americans put impediments and obstacle in the way of the cooperation of Iran with the Agency. That is the problem." 1.25 7. CUTAWAY OF HOSSEINI WITH REPORTERS 1.28 (W5) VIENNA, AUSTRIA (MARCH 10, 2004) (REUTERS) 8. IAEA SESSION IN PROGRESS; MOHAMED ELBARADEI ON PODIUM LISTENING DURING SESSION; SLV IAEA SESSION IN PROGRESS; MV DELEGATE LEAVING IAEA SESSION; MV SECURITY OUTSIDE IAEA SESSION 2.21 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) IAEA HEAD MOHAMMED ELBARADEI SAYING "Iran has been in breach of its obligation for many years and we need to build confidence. Confidence will take a number of, time, at least and I think the suspension (of all activity related to uranium enrichment) is an important thing for continuing to create that confidence." (QUESTION: "So you're in favour of continued suspension?" "I think confidence for now is good, confidence building measures and as I said, Iran needs to do everything possible right now to create the confidence required." 2.47 10. MV SECURITY OUTSIDE IAEA SESSION 3.00 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 26th March 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
  • Country: Austria
  • Reuters ID: LVAD2MDE9OOJ6611GCT95WMBJZEJ
  • Story Text: Elbaradei says confidence-building measures are needed in Iran.

    Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in Vienna
    said on Wednesday (March 10) that a draft nuclear
    resolution on Iran was the result of U.S. "bullying" and
    that European nations should have done more to stand up to
    Washington.

    "We think that a lot of bullying is involved here by
    the Americans to subdue a healthy process here. We think
    that Americans do not want to accept the fact that Iran is
    not for a nuclear weapons programme, is not looking after a
    nuclear weapons programme. This is a fact and as I said,
    they don't want to accept the fact," the Iranian
    ambassador, Pirooz Hosseini said.

    "Too much pressure, unconstructive pressure, by the
    Americans put impediments and obstacle in the way of the
    cooperation of Iran with the Agency. That is the problem,"
    he added.

    Governors of the IAEA are considering a draft
    resolution which "deplores" omissions in Iran's
    declarations about its nuclear programme and suggests it is
    IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei said last month that "most
    of the workshops used in Iran's centrifuge enrichment
    programme are 'owned by military industrial
    organisations'". He reiterated that finding on Wednesday
    following a third day of IAEA meetings in Austria, focused
    on Iran and Libya's nuclear capabilities.

    "Iran has been in breach of its obligation for many
    years and we need to build confidence. Confidence will take
    a number of, time, at least and I think the suspension is
    an important thing for continuing to create that
    confidence," Elbaradei told reporters in Vienna.

    Despite calls for Tehran to suspend its uranium
    enrichment activities, the country insists it is pursuing a
    purely peaceful nuclear programme for generating
    electricity.

    But the United States has long accused Iran of trying
    to develop an atomic bomb.

    The draft resolution notes "with the most serious
    concern" that IAEA inspectors have uncovered a number of
    omissions in an Iranian declaration last October which
    Tehran billed at the time as a full disclosure of its
    nuclear activities.

    These included its failure to mention advanced designs
    for centrifuges capable of enriching uranium for use in
    nuclear power plants or, potentially, in a weapon.

    However, the resolution stops short of declaring Iran
    in breach of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and
    reporting it to the United Nations Security Council for the
    possible imposition of sanctions, a 'big stick' option
    that Washington appears to be holding in reserve.

    Last month, Britain, France and Germany told Iran they
    would try to block any resolution on Tehran's nuclear
    programme in exchange for Iran's promise to suspend all
    activity related to its uranium enrichment programme.

    But the three big European Union countries agreed on
    Tuesday (March 9) to support an IAEA resolution that did
    not report Tehran to the Security Council.

    The draft resolution will now be the focus of intense
    debate at the IAEA board meeting, expected to last all
    week, where non-aligned countries have yet to have their
    say on it.


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