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Statement by Ambassador Abdul Samad Minty, South Africa's Governor
to the IAEA Board of Governors at the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting, Vienna,
13 June 2007 Agenda item 6: Nuclear Verification
(e) Implementation
of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and relevant provisions of Security Council resolutions
1737 (2006) and 1747 (2007) in the Islamic Republic of Iran Chairperson, At
the outset, my delegation fully associates itself with the statement made by the
Non-Aligned Movement on this agenda item. Chairperson, My delegation
thanks the Director General, Dr Mohammed ElBaradei for his report on the "Implementation
of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and Relevant Provisions of Security Council Resolutions
in the Islamic Republic of Iran", as contained in document GOV/2007/22. South
Africa wishes to reiterate its sincere appreciation to the Director General and
the Agency staff for their continued highly professional, objective and unbiased
approach to resolve the outstanding issues related to Iran's nuclear programme,
in accordance with the ongoing verification activities. Chairperson, South
Africa has carefully studied the Director General's latest report and notes that
the Agency is able to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in
Iran, and that the Agency is implementing a modified safeguards approach for Iran's
Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP), which include monthly inspections and design information
verification visits as well as unannounced inspections and containment and surveillance
measures. We commend Iran for this co-operative approach in implementing
its obligations in terms of its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, and encourage
Iran to continue and expand such co-operation. South Africa also welcomes the
information provided in the report that there are no indications of reprocessing
activities at those sites referred to in the report. Chairperson, As
all Members of the IAEA are aware and as stated two weeks ago in Parliament by
South Africa's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr NC Dlamini Zuma, the evolving confrontation
between the big powers and Iran over its peaceful use of nuclear energy has escalated
in recent months and the matter has effectively been shifted to the United Nations
Security Council from the Board of Governors.
Chairperson My Minister
added that not only has the co-operation between Iran and the Board deteriorated,
but South Africa has consistently warned that taking the matter to the Security
Council from the IAEA involves serious risks of escalating confrontation which
could easily spiral into a dangerous situation for the region and the world and
it also involves the risk of reducing the verification of the role of the Agency.
This would in effect mean that the international community would have no authoritative
and verified information about the precise scale and nature of Iran's nuclear
programme. Chairperson, My Minister added that it is therefore not
a surprise that the Director General's report continues to indicate that Iran
has not implemented the key requirements of the relevant United Nations Security
Council resolutions on suspending enrichment-related activities, and has not suspended
work on all heavy water-related projects, including construction of the research
reactor moderated by heavy water at Arak (IR-40), but in fact have expanded them.
South Africa is concerned that Iran continues to put additional restrictions
and limitations on the Agency's verification activities including the Agency's
right to re-verify design information at Arak. This is regrettable, and Iran should
comply with the legally binding obligations of the UN Security Council resolutions.
Furthermore, it is also of concern that no progress has been made on resolving
the long outstanding issues related to uranium contamination, and acquisition
of centrifuge technology. My Minister also said that South Africa shares
the concern of the Agency that due to a lack of information received from Iran,
the Agency's overall level of knowledge of certain aspects of Iran's nuclear related
activities has deteriorated. South Africa views this situation with a sense of
deep concern, as this means that the international community would have no authoritative
and verified information about the precise scale and nature of Iran's nuclear
programme, thereby further eroding confidence and contributing to the escalation
of confrontation. South Africa therefore calls on Iran to reconsider its
decision not to provide information to the Agency under the Additional Protocol,
and initiate steps, including allowing access to declared facilities to enable
the Agency to undertake design verification visits, which would ensure that the
Agency's knowledge base of Iran's nuclear related activities is enhanced and do
not deteriorate further. Chairperson, As stated by Minister Dlamini
Zuma, and I quote: "At every point we have called for dialogue and negotiations,
and in the current crisis, encourage all parties to spare no effort to seek a
comprehensive and sustainable solution. South Africa will continue to encourage
all parties concerned to enter into a dialogue and negotiations in order to seek
a comprehensive and sustainable solution. South Africa and the international community
do not wish to see Iran develop nuclear weapons, but equally we do not want to
see war over Iran's nuclear programme" Unquote. Chairperson, South
Africa recalls that in May 2007, we as Member States participated in the first
preparatory meeting for the 2010 NPT Review Conference and called for the elimination
of all nuclear weapons. We also insisted, as before, that developing countries,
including South Africa, cannot be denied their right to peaceful nuclear technology
as provided for in the NPT. The Islamic Republic of Iran has the opportunity
now to demonstrate and reassure the international community that all aspects of
its nuclear programme are peaceful. South Africa calls on Iran to use every opportunity
to resolve the few remaining outstanding issues with the Agency and to restore
the international community's belief that its nuclear programme is peaceful. In
conclusion, Chairperson, South Africa encourages all parties to refrain from any
actions that would lead to a further deterioration of the crisis. We also believe
that we need to seize the opportunities provided through innovative leadership,
which the Director General is also providing, in order to find an early solution
to the growing crisis, which could deteriorate sharply and result in a major catastrophe
that would be disastrous for all concerned.
I thank you. Issued
by Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001 13
June 2007 | 
