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Energy and Security Inseparable - Iran's Foreign Minister

Posted on: Sunday, 12 March 2006, 15:00 CST

Text of report in English by Iranian Mehr news agency in English

Tehran. 12 Mar: Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki said here on Sunday [12 March] that Iran insists on playing an effective and reliable role as a supplier of energy in Asia.

Addressing the international conference Energy and Security: Asian Vision, Mottaki said that energy and security are inseparable, adding that Iran does not seek to use oil as a tool to push its foreign policy.

Without energy there will be no progress in countries, but, unfortunately, there is an international scramble under way to control energy resources, he observed.

Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran faces a challenge since it intends to gain access to nuclear fuel technology. Countries which possess this technology are not interested in the participation of other states in this field.

Energy resources have been of special importance in the developments that have taken place over the past 100 years. Undoubtedly, the ways that we use renewable energy resources will significantly influence future competitions and hostilities.

In the recent energy crisis in Europe, we witnessed that, without taking geographical boundaries into consideration, the issue of energy supplies for citizens of Europe and the Caucasus turned the idea of collective security into an international issue.

Convergence between North America and European countries, with Russia included, is encouraged, but in the Middle East there is a deliberate attempt to keep the idea of convergence on the back burner.

The Greater Middle East Initiative has only triggered hostilities and threatens the security and stability of North Africa and the Arab Middle East.

He also noted that the failure to follow up fundamental peace- seeking efforts in the region based on justice has intensified terrorism.

Mottaki said that the recent attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities were politically motivated, adding that such attacks, if successful, could have a very dangerous impact on the international oil market.

Iraq, which is one of the worlds most important oil producers, is still suffering from instability as a result of US interventionist policies and is still a long way away from attaining a responsible role in supplying world energy needs, the foreign minister said.

He noted that financial and technological sanctions are among the factors that will reduce fossil fuel energy supplies, adding, "The annoying and incorrect policies of industrialized states can make pipelines for the transfer of energy insecure.

"Even oil shipping lines are not immune from political and military goals. Therefore, energy cannot be separated from security, and all factors should be taken into consideration.

The Islamic Republic of Iran believes all factors involved in energy supply, production, the economy, technology, and consumption can be defined within a comprehensive security plan for Asia, the foreign minister said, as carried by IRNA.

The government of President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad gives priority to cooperation with neighbouring and Asian states, Mottaki noted.

He questioned why Asian states have not tried to set up an Asian and international consortium on energy and gas consumption.

Mottaki said the Iranian government's policy with regard to the transfer of energy via pipelines to different regions is based on such an outlook.

"This indicates Iran's strong resolve to contribute to the development of Asian countries and the world," he said.

"Iran is firmly determined to ensure economic and security convergence and the progress of Asian states and believes consolidated and integrated ties among Asian countries would prepare the ground for the expansion of relations with other major states.

"At a time when Northern states can transfer the gas reserves of Siberia to consumer markets, why should Asian countries not transfer the energy of the Middle East to consumer markets of Asia and the Pacific states?" he asked.

Multilateral cooperation between countries in the field of energy can help them establish security, the foreign minister said.

He stressed the importance of bolstering joint cooperation among Asian countries, saying, "Joint and multilateral cooperation in the field of energy will automatically result in positive security efficiency, both for producing and consuming states in Asia.

"A decade after the end of the Cold War, the two opposite poles of the Cold War are determined to build convergence and contribute to collective energy security for producing and consuming states.

"Asian states, which have no similar experience of a bipolar world in the past, should rely on the financial and spiritual assets of Asia and prove they have reached the necessary political maturity to safeguard the collective interests of Asia and that they are strongly determined to materialize their goals."

Opportunity still remains for nuclear talks: Mottaki

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the two-day conference, Mottaki said an opportunity still remains for continuing talks on the Iranian nuclear issue.

He emphasized the necessity for the restoration of Iran's right to make peaceful use of nuclear energy.

"We can restore our rights based on the approach we have adopted. With respect to the situation at the latest session of the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors, we believe the negotiating sides have a chance to continue talks, as mentioned in the statement of the board's chief.

"We lay emphasis on the need for all sides to seize such an opportunity," the minister said.

He added, "Iran prefers to make use of internationally recognized mechanisms and to benefit from its membership in the nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty."

Mottaki went on to say that Iran signed the NPT some 30 years ago, adding, "We believe we can attain our rights based on international mechanisms.

"If we reach a point where the existing mechanisms do not provide for the rights of the Iranian people, then it is possible that the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran would be revised and reconsidered," Mottaki said in response to a question on whether Iran would consider withdrawing from the NPT.

Deputy FM: Energy now on agenda of Iran's diplomacy

Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs Alireza Shaykh Attar said on Sunday that the issue of energy has been placed on Iran's diplomatic agenda.

Speaking at the energy and security conference, he said it is the first time that the issue of energy has been dealt with as one of the pillars of Iran's diplomacy.

Highlighting the ever-increasing role of gas in the generation of energy and the sensitivity of Europe to the issue, he said the recent energy dispute between Russia and Ukraine showed the importance of the energy issue and thus Iran, as the country possessing the second largest gas reserves in the world, cannot remain indifferent to the issue.

Any probable insecurity or tension over transfer of energy from Iran to other countries could inflict heavy losses on the end users, especially the Europeans, he said, while elaborating on the country's significant status and its potential for energy generation.

It is Europe and the US that are the main causes of insecurity in Asia and the Middle East region in particular, he pointed out.

On the importance of the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, he said, "At first, due to some tension between India and Pakistan, there was little progress, but later, with an improvement in ties, the plan has made significant progress."

Economic development belongs to energy producers: Adeli

Chairman of the Economic Trends Institute Mohammad-Hossein Adeli said on Sunday that the current world oil consumption is 80 million barrels per day which will increase to 190 million barrels by 2025.

Speaking on the sidelines of the energy and security conference, he said that studies show that OPEC has the capacity to meet the worlds increasing demand for oil; therefore, OPEC members should increase their production to 42 million barrels per day by 2025.

In the future, economic development and power will belong to energy producers, and they will be able to pursue seriously nuclear technology and research, observed the former deputy foreign minister.

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

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