france is concerned to see iran accumulating a large stockpile of lightly enriched uranium
FRENCH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
June 8, 2009
France, which supports the efforts of the IAEA director general and his staff to shed light on Iran’s nuclear activities, is concerned to see that country accumulating a large stockpile of lightly enriched uranium without an identifiable civilian objective, in violation of Security Council resolutions and those of the IAEA’s Board of Governors.
It is regrettable that Iran did not cooperate with the IAEA on issues concerning possible Iranian activities linked to the design and manufacture of nuclear weapons, as the director general underscores in his report. The Agency also notes that Iran is restricting the Agency’s powers of verification by not allowing IAEA inspectors access to the Arak Nuclear Research Reactor and by not applying either the additional protocol or its obligation to declare projects involving its nuclear plants.
We call on Iran to choose the path of dialogue in order to reach a negotiated solution to the nuclear issue that responds to the international community’s concerns. Nearly two months ago, Javier Solana and the Six proposed to Iran a joint meeting to resume talks. We regret that Iran still has not responded to this proposal.
Major gestures of openness made by the United States since the election of President Obama are creating a window of opportunity for the six-party negotiations, to which France, as well as its partners, is attached. We hope Iran will rapidly choose cooperation, not isolation.