Topnews, Statements

04. March 2015

STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR TEBOGO SEOKOLO, RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE/GOVERNOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA ON THE OCCASION OF THE IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS O4 MARCH 2015

AGENDA ITEM 6(D): IMPLMENTATION OF THE NPT SAFEGUARDS AGREEMENT AND RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS IN THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

Madame Chairperson,

South Africa associates itself with the statement delivered by the Permanent Representative of Iran, Ambassador Reza Najafi, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). 

We thank the Director-General for his report on the Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and relevant provisions of Security Council resolutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran. We also thank Deputy Director-General Tero Varjoranta for his opening remarks on this agenda item and for the Technical Briefing on 25 February 2015.

Madame Chairperson,

My delegation welcomes the continued dialogue between the Agency and Iran, aimed at the resolution of all outstanding substantive issues under the Framework for Cooperation. In this regard, we welcome talks held between the Director General and the Foreign Minister of Iran in February 2015, in which it was agreed to intensify talks at all levels in order to give further impetus to the momentum generated by the on-going talks.

South Africa remains convinced that the current negotiations and peaceful dialogue between the Iran and the Agency offer the possibility for a long lasting solution that will pave a way for Iran to fulfil its international obligations under the NPT and exercise her inalienable right to use nuclear for peaceful purposes.

My delegation notes from the report provided to the Board that Iran’s clarification of the two practical measures is necessary for further progress in the on-going negotiations. We encourage Iran to continue to deploy all the necessary efforts in this regard.

In conclusion, we support the continued discussions between the E3+3 and Iran and look forward to the conclusion of an agreement as envisaged in the Joint Plan of Action. We support the extension of the Joint Plan of Action (JPA) until 30 June 2015 as it will provide additional time for finding consensus for a mutually acceptable solution.

I thank you,

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