SA backs Iran on 'peaceful nukes'
David Masango
22 August 2006Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma says the matter of Iran's use of nuclear energy should be resolved through negotiation.
Dlamini Zuma was speaking in Pretoria on Monday at the opening of the ninth session of the South Africa-Iran joint bilateral commission, which she chairs jointly with her Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki.
Dlamini-Zuma said South Africa's position on Iran's use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes was based on the Non-Proliferation Treaty, provides for the inalienable right of all members, including Iran, to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
"South Africa has consistently stated that the matter of Iran's use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes can be resolved peacefully through negotiations within the International Atomic Energy Agency," the minister said.
"We hope that the outstanding issues within the IAEA will be resolved as soon as possible and full support provided to its director general.
"However, as we all know, the matter has been taken to the United Nations Security Council, and we urge all parties to avoid confrontation and resume negotiations.
The minister's statement comes just a few days before Iran announces a response to an offer of incentives from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany if the country stops enriching uranium.
Iran has been given until the end of this month to respond to the offer or face economic and diplomatic sanctions.
Mottaki expressed gratitude for South Africa's support.
"Iran has the right to peaceful use of nuclear energy as a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty," Mottaki said on Monday. "Our activities are transparent and we welcome the initiative by the G5+1 and we are considering their proposal."
Joint bilateral commission
High-ranking South African and Iranian delegations are meeting in Pretoria over two days this week to
seek ways to strengthen economic and political ties between the two countries.
Issues on the meeting's agenda include further cooperation in trade, mining, agriculture, telecommunications, health services, science, arts, culture and sports.
"The meeting provides us the opportunity to assess the progress, the scope and the future of our cooperation," Dlamini-Zuma said. "It will also give us the opportunity to assess what we have achieved since the last joint bilateral commission, which was held in Tehran in 2004.
"Despite the fact that trade and investment have grown steadily since the establishment of this commission in 1995, the R13-billion trade deficit that exists between our two countries points to impediments that must be investigated and resolved."
Mottaki said trade in agricultural products from South Africa was on the increase, and that there was "ample potential" for increased cooperation and mutual benefit in mining.
Mottaki added that a second group of Iranian medical doctors would be coming to South Africa.
Source: BuaNews
