Nature of the Islamic Republic
Monday, 11 February 2008
Continued from page 16
Iran and the IAEA were held in Tehran and Vienna on 11-12 July, 24 July and 20-21 August 2007 respectively. The IAEA delegation consisted of the heads of technical, political and legal departments. As a result of intensive meetings which were carried out between two sides in a professional and friendly atmosphere lasting more than 40 working hours and the text of the understanding was concluded on 21 August in Tehran. The conclusion of the text within 40 days, much less than the period agreed has demonstrated Iran's seriousness in its initiative. Needless to say that at the beginning of the negotiations between Iran and the Agency, few countries had even questioned the merits of such talks and Iran's determination to fulfill the above-mentioned agreement to a conclusive result. In the course of negotiations it was decided to deal with the issues in two different categories namely the present and the past issues. As far as the present issues are concerned Iran agreed to enter into the in-depth technical discussions aiming at the conclusion of the safeguards approach and the facility attachment for the enrichment facility at Natanz. Apart from the agreement on discussing the modalities, Iran took additional voluntary steps promoting cooperative envirnoment which consist of acceptance of list of additional inspectors to be designated for Iran, granting access to Heavy water research reactor in Arak and issuing multiple annual visas for the inspectors and the staff members of the IAEA. These measures particularly the visit to Arak was taken during the negotiations as a good gesture. The second category consisted of the exhausted list of few past remaining issues namely the plutonium experiments, P1 and P2, source of contamination, U metal document, Po210 and Ghachine mine was provided by the Agency's delegation. Bearing in mind the past experience dealing these issues with the IAEA it was decided that rather then putting all issues simultaneously and without prioritization at the table, it was decided that to deal with them in a sequential and in a well-defined time frame. As one could clearly notice in the text of the understandings, the tasks and responsibilities of both sides are well elaborated. Recalling that one of the past issues was the Plutonium experiments that has been claimed conducted more than a decade ago. Following intensive technical discussion held in Iran in parallel to the negotiation, the past declaration of Iran is found to be consistent with the technical findings of the IAEA and thus The Agency concluded the issue being resolved. As the Director General has considered, the recent understanding and the work plan is a significant step forward. It is essential to considerer that it has created a new positive environment and opened window of opportunity for the concerned countries to enter into negotiation in order to resolve politically related issues while technical discussion on few remaining outstanding issues based on agreed modalities in continued. This historical juncture is the test of political and good will of all member States believing in peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue of Iran through dialogue and negotiation and technical elaboration within the framework of the IAEA.
Security Council and Nuclear Dossier
Unfortunately the referral of Iran dossier to the Security Council was made because of Iran's resumption of suspended enrichment process (research and development in enrichment) which as stipulated by the Boards of Governors was just a non-biding and voluntary measure taken by Iran for more than two years.
Negotiations
The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that negotiations, dialogue and understanding is the most reasonable way for the settlement of the issue and it is determined to continue this route. It goes without saying that in order to have fruitful negotiations and talks, the negotiations shall not be accompanied with preconditions and the prime target shall not be set as deprivation of Iran from its inalienable and undeniable rights, and on the other side it shall facilitate removing the ambiguities from nuclear activities. The Islamic Republic of Iran is quite serious to follow the path of negotiations and diplomacy and naturally any solution to this case shall meet the concerns of both parties. As its part, the Islamic Republic of Iran has already proved that it is fully prepared to settle this issue by peaceful means.
Iran and the IAEA were held in Tehran and Vienna on 11-12 July, 24 July and 20-21 August 2007 respectively. The IAEA delegation consisted of the heads of technical, political and legal departments. As a result of intensive meetings which were carried out between two sides in a professional and friendly atmosphere lasting more than 40 working hours and the text of the understanding was concluded on 21 August in Tehran. The conclusion of the text within 40 days, much less than the period agreed has demonstrated Iran's seriousness in its initiative. Needless to say that at the beginning of the negotiations between Iran and the Agency, few countries had even questioned the merits of such talks and Iran's determination to fulfill the above-mentioned agreement to a conclusive result. In the course of negotiations it was decided to deal with the issues in two different categories namely the present and the past issues. As far as the present issues are concerned Iran agreed to enter into the in-depth technical discussions aiming at the conclusion of the safeguards approach and the facility attachment for the enrichment facility at Natanz. Apart from the agreement on discussing the modalities, Iran took additional voluntary steps promoting cooperative envirnoment which consist of acceptance of list of additional inspectors to be designated for Iran, granting access to Heavy water research reactor in Arak and issuing multiple annual visas for the inspectors and the staff members of the IAEA. These measures particularly the visit to Arak was taken during the negotiations as a good gesture. The second category consisted of the exhausted list of few past remaining issues namely the plutonium experiments, P1 and P2, source of contamination, U metal document, Po210 and Ghachine mine was provided by the Agency's delegation. Bearing in mind the past experience dealing these issues with the IAEA it was decided that rather then putting all issues simultaneously and without prioritization at the table, it was decided that to deal with them in a sequential and in a well-defined time frame. As one could clearly notice in the text of the understandings, the tasks and responsibilities of both sides are well elaborated. Recalling that one of the past issues was the Plutonium experiments that has been claimed conducted more than a decade ago. Following intensive technical discussion held in Iran in parallel to the negotiation, the past declaration of Iran is found to be consistent with the technical findings of the IAEA and thus The Agency concluded the issue being resolved. As the Director General has considered, the recent understanding and the work plan is a significant step forward. It is essential to considerer that it has created a new positive environment and opened window of opportunity for the concerned countries to enter into negotiation in order to resolve politically related issues while technical discussion on few remaining outstanding issues based on agreed modalities in continued. This historical juncture is the test of political and good will of all member States believing in peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue of Iran through dialogue and negotiation and technical elaboration within the framework of the IAEA.
Security Council and Nuclear Dossier
Unfortunately the referral of Iran dossier to the Security Council was made because of Iran's resumption of suspended enrichment process (research and development in enrichment) which as stipulated by the Boards of Governors was just a non-biding and voluntary measure taken by Iran for more than two years.
Negotiations
The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that negotiations, dialogue and understanding is the most reasonable way for the settlement of the issue and it is determined to continue this route. It goes without saying that in order to have fruitful negotiations and talks, the negotiations shall not be accompanied with preconditions and the prime target shall not be set as deprivation of Iran from its inalienable and undeniable rights, and on the other side it shall facilitate removing the ambiguities from nuclear activities. The Islamic Republic of Iran is quite serious to follow the path of negotiations and diplomacy and naturally any solution to this case shall meet the concerns of both parties. As its part, the Islamic Republic of Iran has already proved that it is fully prepared to settle this issue by peaceful means.