LOC19:28
16:28 GMT
PARIS, Dec 4 (KUNA) -- France said on Tuesday that it was unmoved by a US
intelligence report indicating that Iran had stopped its military, nuclear
program in 2003, a finding that appears to contradict claims Iran is seeking
an atomic weapons capability.
"I remind you that since 2003, the international community has based its
action on facts, particularly as they are reported by the IAEA (UN nuclear
watchdog), and not on an evaluation of Irans intentions," Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman Pascale Andreani said at a briefing.
The French official stressed that "as shown in the last report by the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), we note that Iran has still not
answered all the questions concerning its past and present activities and the
Agency notes that Iran continues in its efforts to master the technology for
(uranium) enrichment."
Andreani said that given these facts, "it appears that Iran is not
respecting its international obligations."
"Our position thus remains unchanged. We must continue to maintain pressure
on Iran," she indicated.
"We are going to pursue the drafting of a resolution containing restrictive
measures (sanctions) within the framework of the United Nations," Andreani
affirmed.
She reiterated that France was not heeding the intelligence report by 16 US
agencies in the United Intelligence Estimate (UIE), which downplayed the
danger from Iran, although the UIE did say it could not predict if Iran would
resume efforts to obtain military nuclear potential.
Andreani repeated a statement issued last weekend in Paris, when Political
Directors from five of the six major nations met to discuss Iran.
The Russian Political Director was held up because of bad weather and did
not participate in the Paris meeting, which French officials described as
"positive and constructive".
They also said that there was a "consensus" among the five on moving
forward with an examination of elements for a third round of UN sanctions
against Iran and a text for this purpose is supposed to be circulated this
week.
Asked by KUNA about the Russian position on future sanctions and the road
ahead in this area, Andreani said that the Russian Political Director has been
contacted Sunday by his French counterpart and "Russia fully shares the
consensus reached Saturday in Paris" by the other countries in the 'Six.' (End)
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KUNA 041928 Dec 07NNNN