Soltanieh: IAEA Constitution only criterion for decision making on projects

Vienna, Nov 25, IRNA Iran's Ambassador to international Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali
Asghar Soltanieh said the Agency's Constitution as well as Document
267 are the only criteria for decision making on projects.

In a meeting of technical cooperation committee on Monday evening,
Soltanieh said, "It has been underlined in the documents that in
technical projects there should be no political, economic and military
conditions."
He said, " As it has been underlined during the past decades, the
developing countries are opposed to the existing mechanism in
providing budget for technical projects, because the budget has no
guarantee and is not predictable, while the budgets for inspection and
safeguards are provided from membership fees, so the process should be
adjusted."
The ambassador continued, "As I have reminded in the last six years,
the aim of certain western countries, under the pretext of Iran's
nuclear issue, is to change some parts of the Agency's constitution
and duties."
"These countries have tried to interfere in the legal obligation and
duties of the IAEA, which is contradictory with countries' national
security. And now they intend to do the same thing on the Agency's
technical cooperation, too," he added.

Soltanieh underscored, "Interference of the UN Security Council in the
Agency's activities, especially in technical projects, will endanger
the professional nature and prestige of the IAEA, so the developing
countries must stand against such political moves." Elsewhere in his
remarks, Soltanieh appreciated Non-Aligned Movement statement as well
as Group 77 and China to support developing countries projects.

End