Minister Pettigrew Welcomes IAEA Action on Iran

News Release

September 24, 2005
No. 170
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today made the following statement welcoming
the adoption by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of a resolution finding
Iran in non-compliance with its nuclear safeguards requirements:
“This action is long overdue and should have been taken two years ago when Iran's
non-compliance was first clearly established by the IAEA. It represents confirmation that
Iran has not been acting in accordance with its safeguards obligations under the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It also justifies the serious concerns that have been
expressed by Canada and many other countries about the nature of Iran's nuclear
activities.
“It is noteworthy that the resolution also recognizes that Iran is a special case that
requires measures beyond the ones normally used by the IAEA. Simply put, Iran must
do more. Iran has undertaken a unilateral and unwarranted resumption of uranium
conversion. Iran has also refused to cooperate fully with the IAEA, in defiance of
successive IAEA resolutions.These troubling facts, together with Iran's rejection of a
comprehensive offer from the U.K., France and Germany for a long-term settlement of
the nuclear issue, make it difficult for the international community to have confidence in
Iran's nuclear program and in Iran as a reliable partner. We urge Iran to abide by the
resolution's call for it to observe its commitments fully. We also call on Iran to undertake
genuine cooperation with the IAEA, suspend uranium conversion again, and return to
negotiations with the U.K., France and Germany for a diplomatic solution—a process
that has made good progress over the last two years.
“Given these findings, I am disappointed that the members of the Board of Governors
of the IAEA did not decide to report Iran’s non-compliance immediately to the United
Nations Security Council, as the Agency is required to do under its statute.
Non-compliance of this nature, together with Iran’s other unhelpful actions on the
nuclear issue, are a serious matter. The resolution recognizes that Iran’s nuclear
program may not be exclusively for peaceful purposes. This gives rise to questions of
international peace and security that are within the competence of the Security Council.
To delay such a report risks harming the credibility of the IAEA and the multilateral
non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament regime, of which the IAEA is a key
component. Canada remains of the view that reporting the matter to the Security
Council is a necessary step toward reaching a satisfactory long-term solution.”
- 30 -
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Sébastien Théberge
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca

Search for related information by keyword

Global Affairs Canada Science and Technology Government and Politics

Page details

2016-12-15

We have archived this page and will not be updating it.

We have archived this page and will not be updating it.

Minister Pettigrew Welcomes IAEA Action on Iran

News Release

Page details