Date : 14/02/2013
PARIS, Feb 14 (KUNA) -- France said on Thursday that it was "very
concerned" by the breakdown, once again, in talks between Iran and the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has been seeking inspections
and access at Iran's multiple sites, some of which are suspected of housing
military programmes linked with Iran's nuclear activities.
"The persistent refusal of Iran to finalise discussions with the IAEA and
shed all light on the finality of its nuclear programme is very worrying,"
French Foreign Ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot said in answer to a KUNA
question.
The IAEA has been seeking proper and transparent access to Iranian sites
for years and has complained that it has not been granted either access or
complete answers to a number of "pending questions."
The IAEA has also been requesting access to qualified personnel working on
Iran's nuclear programme.
Iran claims its work is solely to provide civil nuclear technology for
civilian energy purposes but alarm bells have been sounded both at the IAEA
and with some nations regarding a possible military component to the nuclear
activities.
Several meetings with the IAEA and Iranian officials have ended in
stalemate, furthering suspicions Iran has something to hide.
"Unfortunately, Iran has not seized the opportunities of these meetings
with the Agency to finally engage in steps towards cooperation and
transparency. On the contrary, we note that Iran has announced the
installation of new-generation centrifuges on the Natanz site, destined to
accelerate its uranium enrichment programme," Lalliot pointed out.
He said Iran must cooperate with the IAEA in line with international
obligations set out by the UN Security Council and by the IAEA Board of
Governors.
The IAEA Board is due to meet at the beginning of March and will set out
the conditions of the latest failure in talks with Iran and measures to take.
(end)
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KUNA 141548 Feb 13NNNN