EU Foreign Policy Chief Says Optimistic Over Iran Nuclear Case
At 1815gmt, Iranian TV’s network two started to broadcast its nightly studio roundtable. A recording of a Press TV roundtable discussion with EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana was broadcast. The conversation was in English with Farsi voice-over.
Javier Solana was asked to comment about the package of incentives which he had brought to Iran. He described the new proposal as very “generous”.
Asked to comment on what has been offered in the package, he said that the package wanted to stop Iran from going towards military purposes.
The presenter asked him to comment on the “suspension” phrase in the package, Solana said that the EU completely supported the NPT and Iran’s development of peaceful nuclear technology. He said that the EU was ready to help Iran in its nuclear programme but wanted to avoid any possibility of deviation [towards nuclear weapons].
Referring to George Bush’s remarks in Slovenia and his comments about suspension of Iran’s nuclear activities altogether, the presenter said that President Bush has clearly announced that he is even against Iran having nuclear knowledge and technology.
Solana, in response, said that Tehran was a signatory to the NPT and had obligations. As you know, he said, the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] has made a few claims with regards to the objectives of Tehran’s nuclear programme.
“What we want is to make the issue completely clear. When you want to build a nuclear reactor, you will have to refer to the people who know how to do it. You only have one nuclear reactor, the logical way is for Iran to cooperate with us and we will provide the fuel to Iran. Therefore you should not try to reach this point [producing nuclear fuel]. We will provide the fuel for you. When you say that you want to continue enrichment, we come up with the question where do you want to use this material. Let me tell you frankly that we have no problem with your country’s technological development and want to cooperate with you in that area. However, before that, we should build the necessary trust that would allow us interact with Iran,” he said.
“We are ready to help you but the question is why enrichment?” he said, adding: “Enrichment is impossible at the moment because you do not have any place to use the enriched uranium in. You have only one reactor and you have already received enough fuel for this reactor from Russia,” he said.
Asked to comment about the new package, he said: “We can see many points of common interest in this package… Let me tell you that in the package which I presented today and during my talks, I reiterated that Iran, like other countries, has the right to have nuclear programme, of course on the condition that it clearly proves that the programme has no mal-intentions and is only aimed at generating energy. Let me tell you that this is both in your interest and our interest.”
On the proposal by Iranian president to create international consortiums to take part in Iran’s nuclear programme, he said, that the idea was good but if both sides started negotiations.
Asked to comment on the IAEA reports, he said that Tehran had the right to develop nuclear technology only if it complied with the IAEA regulations.
Asked what was wrong with Iran’s proposal for the formation of consortiums, he said: “What is wrong with the proposal is that understanding certain words is not easy. Understanding the word consortium is not easy. I want you to explain the meaning of this word and how this consortium is supposed to be formed. This is a technical issue and is very difficult. Therefore, as long as we do not have guarantees on how this consortium is formed, its facilities and other issues surrounding it; talking about this issue is not very logical.”
“…We want full cooperation. The people of Iran should know that we cannot stop them from progressing in technological fronts. But we want guarantees that are normal under the NPT agreement,” he said elsewhere.
Asked why Iran could not enrich uranium under full supervision of the IAEA, he said because the IAEA had announced that Tehran was not committed to its obligations within the NPT.
Solana said that the EU could not enter talks with Iran as long as it continued uranium enrichment.
He said that when Iran suspended its nuclear activities three years ago, talks were very positive and had the talks not been interrupted for political reasons, the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme would have progressed better.
On the “double-standard” policies of the EU and its silence towards Israel’s nuclear programme, Solana said: “Countries that have signed the NPT should remain committed to it. Those that have not have a different situation. We should pay attention to the situation of the region when discussing the Middle East. You know what the situation is like in the Middle East and what we don’t want to happen in this region is the presence of more arms. There’re enough weapons in the region and we want the Middle East to be free of weapons of mass destruction.”
Asked to express his own views on Iran’s nuclear case, Solana said he was an “optimist”.
The debate ended at 1930gmt.
Originally published by Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran Network 2, Tehran, in Persian 1815 16 Jun 08.
(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring Middle East. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.