[Please note that only the original French text issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be considered official.]

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Q - What is France's reaction to Mr. ElBaradei's proposal for a "timeout" during which Iran would stop its nuclear activities in order to break the diplomatic crisis?

A - We have taken note of Mr. ElBaradei's statement and his idea for a "timeout" between Iran and the Six. We would like Iran to return to the path of cooperation with the international community and of negotiations with the Six. It is in this spirit that President Chirac proposed "dual suspension": that Iran suspend its enrichment activities and the international community its action in the Security Council. This principle was moreover adopted and endorsed by the UN Security Council in resolution 1737. I refer you specifically to paragraph 24a of the resolution which states very clearly that the Security Council will suspend the implementation of the sanctions measures it has adopted if Iran suspends its enrichment and reprocessing activities, including research and development.

Q - Meaning that the proposal for a timeout isn't in conformity with the resolution?

A - The question is rather for Mr. ElBaradei. I don't know exactly what he means in speaking of a "timeout." What is perfectly clear for us is the position of the international community in resolution 1737 which, as I said, takes up the idea of dual suspension: suspension by Iran of its enrichment activities on one hand, and suspension of sanctions by the international community on the other. That is perfectly clear and remains the line of conduct of the international community.

Q - Article 24a refers to research and development. What does that mean? Does it mean there has to be some control to verify whether research and development are suspended?

A - Yes, of course. All suspension must be verified by the IAEA.

Q - So it's not enough for Iran to stop its sensitive activities?

A - It means that Iran would have to suspend certain sensitive activities and the IAEA would have to be able to tell us that these activities were actually suspended. That's the reason the resolution asks the IAEA to submit periodic reports. As you know, Mr. ElBaradei's first report has to arrive within 60 days of the adoption of resolution 1737.

Q - Do you have any comment on the article in today's International Herald Tribune which says the Americans are putting pressure on the Europeans to stop or suspend economic contacts with Iran?

A - On this point France's position, like that of the other European Union members, is that we are determined to implement resolution 1737 in a rigorous way. And as you know, a joint position is being prepared in Brussels to implement resolution 1737. After the common position, there will be a community ruling, a European ruling, which will impose a number of financial obligations on private actors, on companies, in accordance with resolution 1737.

The American measures to which the article refers are in reality something else and don't follow from the application of resolution 1737. They are being taken on the basis of US legislation and so don't affect the Europeans. Once again, our position is the stringent implementation of resolution 1737 consistent with what the resolution asks.

With regard to the financial domain, there's paragraph 12 in particular which provides for a freeze on the assets of a number of entities, which are designated in the resolution, and paragraph 6 which bars any financial assistance for programs contributing to proliferation. This is what we are implementing on the European and national levels.

Q - Igor Ivanov was in Iran. Did he come to France before going to Iran?

A - I believe that Mr. Ivanov did come to France. He had contacts with the secretary-general of the Defense Ministry. I don't have the dates in my head when he came to France. These are contacts we have with the Russian authorities regularly, especially with Igor Ivanov whom Mr. Delon had met in Moscow. We can check the dates when he was in Paris.

Q - To discuss the Iran question?

A - No, there's no specific purpose. Mr. Ivanov is secretary of the Russian national security council and in this capacity has regular contacts with the French authorities, not about Iran specifically, about security questions in general.

Q - Is France worried about an American military offensive against Iran?

A - The minister said again this morning very clearly that in our eyes only a diplomatic solution was likely to resolve this question. He reiterated it very clearly this morning on the radio, and I don't think there's any ambiguity in the French position.

Q - There's a Russian move vis-à-vis Iran, and from Saudi Arabia as well. Does France know about an initiative between Iran and the Six?

A - I've not been informed of any particular initiative. I did see that there were contacts between the Russians and the Iranians, it's not new. There have also been contacts between the Iranians and the Saudis, among them a visit by Mr. Larijani. But I've not been informed of the fact that there's a specific initiative from the Six. We've said repeatedly, the path to dialogue with Iran has not been cut off. A number of countries are engaged in dialogue with Iran. That's there choice and doesn't call for particular comment on our part.

Q - Apparently there are new Russian proposals?

A - I've not seen that the Russians have submitted new proposals to the Six. The proposal from the Six is well known, it is the one presented by Mr. Solana which remains on the table.

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