EU Presidency Statement - Explanation of vote on Risk of Nuclear Proliferation in the Middle East

Explanation of Vote by Ambassador John Freeman as UK Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the draft resolution on "Risk of Nuclear Proliferation in the Middle East" L.6, United Nations General Assembly, 60th Session, First Committee, New York

Mr Chairman

The EU would like to make a statement in connection with draft resolution L6, 'Risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.' We support the objective that the Middle East becomes a zone free of all WMD, but we are concerned that this draft resolution does not cover some relevant recent developments with respect to nuclear proliferation in the region.

Mr Chairman

The EU will vote in favour of this draft resolution and calls on all States in the region to adhere to the NPT. We also call on all States in the region that have not yet done so to conclude the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and to sign and ratify the Additional Protocol.

The EU shares the concerns of the international community over Iran's nuclear programme, reflected in the relevant resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors. Iran's non-compliance with its Safeguards obligations raises serious questions and is not compatible with the international non-proliferation regime. It is of critical importance not only for all States in the Middle East to accede to relevant non-proliferation treaties and conventions, but also that all parties to the treaties and conventions implement fully their obligations under these instruments.

The EU is concerned by Iran's decision to resume uranium conversion activities at its facility in Esfahan, contrary to the requests of the IAEA Board as well as the agreement made by Iran with France, Germany and the United Kingdom in association with the European Union's High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy in Paris in November 2004 which has provided the basis for talks on long term arrangements. We hope that Iran will take the opportunity to implement in full the requests made by the IAEA Board in its resolution of 24 September. The EU supports the resumption of negotiations on the basis of the Paris Agreement.

| Arriba |

• EU Presidency Statement - Explanation of vote on African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (28/10/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Explanation of vote on Strengthening of Security and Co-operation in the Mediterranean Region (25/10/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Explanation of vote on Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (24/10/2005)
• EU Council Conclusions on Iran  (3/10/2005)
• EUHR Solana welcomes IAEA resolution on Iran's nuclear programme  (24/9/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement - Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (21/9/2005)
• EU Presidency Statement: Iran's nuclear programme (21/9/2005)