NZ DISARMAMENT MINISTER SUPPORTS DECISION ON IRAN

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000089 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR D (FRITZ),NEA/NGA, AND EAP/ANP NSC FOR VICTOR CHA AND MICHAEL GREEN SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA LIZ PHU PACOM FOR J2/J233/J5/SJFHQ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL PGOV KNNP IR NZ SUBJECT: NZ DISARMAMENT MINISTER SUPPORTS DECISION ON IRAN REF: STATE 16171 ¶1. (U) On February 1, New Zealand Disarmament and Arms Control Minister Phil Goff issued a public statement in support of the IAEA extraordinary meeting decision to report Iran's nuclear program to the UN Security Council. Goff, who is also New Zealand's Defense Minister, highlighted the concerns expressed by the United States and others about Iran's program. The following is the complete text of the statement: ¶2. (U) Begin Text: NZ supports decision on Iran's nuclear programme New Zealand supports the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)meeting to report Iran's nuclear programme to the United Nations Security Council -------------- Disarmament and Arms Control Minister Phil Goff expressed New Zealand's support for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) extraordinary meeting in Vienna on February 2 and 3 to report Iran's nuclear programme to the United Nations Security Council. "The unanimity of the concerns expressed by Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the United States should send a strong and clear message to Iran," Mr Goff said. "Earlier this month, New Zealand expressed its strong concern at Iran's decision to remove IAEA seals on uranium enrichment equipment and material at Natanz and other facilities and to undertake research and development related to uranium enrichment." In a meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki in London yesterday, Mr Goff urged Iran to re-establish its suspension of nuclear-related enrichment activities to comply with earlier IAEA Board of Governors' resolutions. "Iran has the right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in conformity with Article 2 of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. However it is essential that Iran meets concerns in the international community about aspects of its nuclear programme - what IAEA Director General has called 'a confidence deficit'," Mr Goff said. "New Zealand supports the course of action proposed by the six countries to report this issue to the UNSC. This is not a formal referral. We hope Iran will now respond positively to the concern of the broader international community and act to restore international confidence in its nuclear activities. "One proposal which offers promise of a potential solution is that put forward by Russia for Iran's enrichment activities to occur on Russian soil. "We also urge Iran to resume negotiations with the EU3 in order to find a solution that meets our and the international community's concerns that the process of developing nuclear energy in Iran does not lead to the development of nuclear weapons capacity," Mr Goff said. End text. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: According to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) contact, the expression of "strong concern" mentioned in paragraph 3 of the statement refers to a January 12 statement by Foreign Minister Winston Peters. Peters expressed concern about Iran's nuclear program, its decision to remove the IAEA seals on its enrichment equipment, and its stated intention to undertake enrichment-related research and development. (The full statement may be found on www.beehive.govt.nz) ¶4. (SBU) MFAT also tells us that Foreign Minister Mottaki's response to Minister Goff's approach was the "normal reaction," i.e. remarks to the effect that Iran has the right to pursue peaceful energy research. MFAT staff have also repeatedly expressed concerns about Iran's program and recent actions to the Iranian Embassy here in Wellington, with similar results. End Comment. ¶5. (U) Post is also forwarding reftel points to MFAT's Disarmamant Division, adding appreciation for New Zealand's support on this issue. McCormick