UN Praises Iran-IAEA Cooperation

Source: Alalam.ir, 23-2-2008
UNITED NATIONS--The UN has hailed stepped-up cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency after the release of a new report by the agency chief Mohamad ElBaradei, a UN official has said.
Farhan al-Haq, UN chief Ban Ki-moon's spokesman, told Alalam that the secretary general welcomed continued dialogue between Iran and the IAEA which was reflected in the report on Iran's nuclear activities.
The spokesman said Ban Ki-moon acknowledged the progress made under the work plan agreed between the two sides in August 2007, but at the same time stressed "the utmost importance of full compliance by the government of Iran with the relevant Security Council resolutions."
ElBaradei circulated his latest report on the nuclear safeguards in Iran to the Agency's Board of Governors on Friday, the 35-member policymaking body.
The report outlines developments since ElBaradei's previous report on November 15, 2007.
ElBaradei in his 11-page report announced settlement of such issues as the source of contamination at a technical university in Tehran, polonium 210 and Gachin mine.
Meanwhile, Iran's permanent representative to the UN, Mohammad Khazaei, told Alalam that the recent report removed ambiguities and left no room for the Western powers to apply more pressure on the Islamic Republic.
Khazaei said: "It is clear evidence that all Iranian nuclear activities are peaceful and there is no diversion in Iran's atomic works."
The Iranian representative stressed that Iran had answered all remaining questions, suggesting that the Security Council members review the report carefully to change their stance on Iran.
Furthermore, he blasted Western media for carrying out a smear campaign against the Islamic Republic and warned the trend would undermine the credibility of the atomic agency.
The IAEA Board of Governors will discuss the report when it next convenes into session in Vienna on 3 March.