Russia, France Urge Iran to Suspend Uranium Enrichment

Itar-Tass News Agency:

Russia and France have made a joint statement, which calls on Iran to suspend the uranium enrichment process. “Russia and France are determined to resolve concerns about the Iranian nuclear program consequences for non-proliferation,” runs the statement adopted on results of the Moscow working visit by French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin. READ MORE

The statement text was posted on the Kremlin website.

Moscow and Paris “welcome positive interaction between Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the EU high representative in the search for a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear problem,” the statement runs.

”Russia and France call on Iran to abide by the February resolution and requirements set by the IAEA Board of Governors, including the suspension of the entire uranium enrichment process. They recognize the legal rights of Iranian people to develop a safe and sustainable atomic energy program on condition of its guaranteed peaceful nature, and use the related benefits,” the statement runs.

“By efficiently resolving international concerns, Iran would open way to international cooperation, which is necessary for the development of this program. The Russian suggestion of setting up a uranium-enrichment joint venture on the territory of Russia has gained broad international support and given a chance for progress,” the statement says.

“Russia and France contribute to general efforts of strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation system and cooperation in the non-proliferation, disarmament, the response to terrorism and peaceful uses of atomic energy,” the statement runs.

“The nuclear non-proliferation system is a cornerstone of the multilateral security system. Russia and France call on all states to meet their commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the IAEA Guarantee Protocol and develop efficient ways of preventing the illegal trade in nuclear equipment, technologies and materials. Thereby they support the UN Committee 1540 and stress the importance of strict compliance with UN Security Council resolution 1540 by all UN member countries,” the statement runs.

Russia and France call for the soonest beginning of negotiations on the treaty on the prohibition of the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other explosive devices and confirm their adherence to the related moratorium, the statement says. “The sides urge all states to cooperate in the containment of the threat of nuclear and radiological terrorism,” it says.

In the opinion of Moscow and Paris, “nuclear energy plays and will play a considerable role in the sustainable development of future generations against the background of the growing international demand for energy,” the statement says. Being NPT member countries, Russia and France confirm their adherence to ‘the broadest exchange of equipment, materials, scientific and technical information in peaceful uses of atomic energy, in particular with developing countries,” the statement runs.

Moscow and Paris “think that absolute compliance with non-proliferation commitments is an important condition for this exchange,” the statement says.

In order to promote this attitude and develop the international atomic energy market, Russia and France “will support initiatives of the consideration of multilateral approaches to the nuclear fuel cycle; reliable international guarantees of access to uranium-enrichment services within the framework of a multilateral mechanism for states that do not develop the nuclear fuel cycle themselves; research of the safest, most economical and proliferation resistant systems of atomic energy,” the statement says.

In addition, France supported the Russian participation in the Generation IV International Forum.