EU Statement on DPRK - Vienna

Madam Chairperson,

1. I am speaking on behalf of the European Union. The Acceding Countries Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, the Associated Countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey as well as Norway declare that they associate themselves with this statement.

2. The EU listened carefully to the introductory remarks of the DG on the DPRK and noted all references made on this issue at the Safeguards Implementation Report for 2002. According to this report, DPRK was the only country where the Secretariat was unable to verify that no nuclear material placed under Safeguards had been diverted and thus remained in non-compliance with its existing Safeguards agreement under the NPT. The DPRK's non-compliance was further reported to the UN Security Council.

3. The EU reiterates its well known position that DPRK should comply with all its treaty obligations, retract its announcement to withdraw from the NPT and readmit IAEA inspectors. As it was shown at the recent 2nd Preparatory Committee of the NPT, the parties to the Treaty agreed to strengthen their political commitments to the Treaty and build effective barriers against any country which tries to violate the provisions of the NPT, which remains the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and the essential foundation of the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. The EU will not tolerate challenges that risk undermining this almost universally accepted Treaty.

4. The official statements by DPRK that reprocessing of fuel rods is going on in Yongbyon, have been received with additional dismay and great concern by the EU. It is therefore more than necessary to have Agency's inspectors return to DPRK, so abruptly expelled by the DPRK for the continuation of their work.

5. We call upon the DPRK to immediately dismantle any nuclear weapon programme in a verifiable and irreversible manner and meet the requirements of the NPT. Only strict observance of the NPT, including full implementation of comprehensive IAEA Safeguards, can provide the necessary assurances about the nature of the DPRK's nuclear programme. This would also help to demonstrate the DPRK's desire for positive international and better economic relations.

6. We welcomed the repeatedly stated readiness of the Director General to send a team to Pyongyang or to receive a DPRK delegation here in Vienna and we fully support the Director General's efforts to reestablish the dialogue with the DPRK for the resolution of this issue.

7. The EU strongly urges once more the DPRK to reconsider its course of action and it reiterates its commitment to contribute towards working out a lasting solution through peaceful means. At the same time, we note that diplomatic efforts are underway in the region to address the problem and, in that context, we welcome the dialogue which has been initiated in Beijing.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson.

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