Press release - March 8, 2006
All parties have failed to take up opportunities to find a solution to the Iran nuclear crisis. Iran and the US threatening each other with "harm" and "pain" cannot be allowed to continue if this situation is not to escalate out of control. Both factions in this crisis need to calm down if it is to be peacefully resolved.
The debate on Iran continues to highlight the contradiction at
theheart of the nuclear non-proliferation problem. In the last
weekDirector General ElBaradei has supported U.S cooperation with
India'snuclear programme despite India's illegal possession of
nuclearweapons, whilst the IAEA Board has decided to report Iran to
the UNSecurity Council even though Iran is operating legally inside
the sameframework. This nuclear hypocrisy clearly demonstrates the
fault linein the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty that will
continue to plaguethe international community.
Today the IAEA Board sent the Iran file to the Security Council,
whenit should have also gone to the General Assembly as other cases
have1,and as is required by the IAEA Statute2. This is a global
problem thatrequires global solutions, and that's why the General
Assembly - notthe Security Council - should be involved. The
Security Council has notdemonstrated its competence in the field of
arms control anddisarmament in the past and is unlikely to do so
now. Security Councilmembers have a track record in promoting arms
races rather thanproducing the plan to stop wasting resources on
arms, as they aremandated to do under article 26 of the UN
Charter.
The only long-term resolution to the global proliferation crisis
is toeradicate the temptation of nuclear technology altogether.
Genuinenegotiations are desperately needed on a nuclear-free Middle
East. Onlya Middle East free of all nuclear technology can be a
Middle East freeof nuclear proliferation.
Other contacts: William Peden, Greenpeace Nuclear Analyst: +31 653 504 731 Felicity Hill Greenpeace International Political Advisor: +31 646 162 018
VVPR info:
Notes: 1 Iraq (July 1991), Romania (July 1992), North Korea (April 1993, March 1994, February 2003) 2 Article XII C was the part of the IAEA Statute that was cited when Iran was found to be in non-compliance in September 2005. This article requires the IAEA Board to report any non-compliance to both the Security Council and the General Assembly