GERMAN FEDERAL MINISTER STEINMEIER WELCOMES
THE RESOLUTION ON IRAN
PASSED BY THE IAEA
GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY
February 4, 2006
Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued the following statement on 4 February following the adoption of the resolution on Iran's nuclear programme tabled by Germany, France and Britain:
"The Federal Government welcomes the clear outcome of the vote by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The resolution we had tabled was adopted with only three votes against. This is a strong result and sends a clear message to Tehran that it must address the grave concerns of the international community regarding the Iranian nuclear programme.
Today's step, which involves the UN Security Council in the efforts to resolve the dispute over the Iranian nuclear programme, by no means marks the end of diplomacy. On the contrary, the resolution was carefully formulated to permit further diplomatic steps.
The Federal Government hopes that the Iranian Government will refrain from taking further unilateral steps, will rethink its past decisions and will meet the unambiguous demands of the IAEA in order to restore the basis for a diplomatic solution and pave the way for a comprehensive confidence-building process. The Iranian response will set the tone for further developments.
The Federal Government is and remains committed to a diplomatic solution."