| The head of the United Nations agency
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| | peaceful energy purposes but the United
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| entrusted with curbing the spread of
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| | States and other countries insist that it
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| nuclear weapons said today he did not
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| | is clandestinely seeking to produce
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| expect any "breakthrough" or "positive
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| | nuclear weapons. In August Iran rescinded
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| agreement" on Iran's nuclear programme at
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| | its voluntary suspension of nuclear fuel
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| the current meeting of the atomic
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| | conversion, which can produce the
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| watchdog's Board of Governors now under
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| | enriched uranium necessary either for
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| way in Vienna.
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| | nuclear power generation or for nuclear
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| "Unfortunately the picture is still hazy
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| | weapons.
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| as to the scope and nature of Iran's
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| | As he has repeatedly over the past three
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| nuclear programme," International Atomic
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| | years, Mr. ElBaradei called on Iran to
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| Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General
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| | provide "maximum transparency," urging it
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| Mohamed ElBaradei told reporters before
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| | to again freeze its research and
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| formally presenting his latest report to
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| | development activities until a solution
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| the Board.
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| | is found.
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| He said IAEA had not seen indications of
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| | "Regrettably, however, after three years
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| diversion of nuclear material to nuclear
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| | of intensive verification, there remain
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| weapons or other nuclear explosive
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| | uncertainties with regard to both the
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| devices during its inspections.
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| | scope and the nature of Iran's nuclear
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| But he warned that there were still a
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| | programme," he said in formally
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| number of "important uncertainties" that
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| | presenting the report to the Board.
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| need to be clarified about the programme,
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| | "As I mentioned in my report, this is a
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| which has been a matter of international
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| | matter of concern that continues to give
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| concern ever since the discovery in 2003
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| | rise to questions about the past and
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| that Iran had concealed its nuclear
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| | current direction of Iran's nuclear
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| activities for 18 years in breach of its
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| | programme. For confidence to be built in
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| obligations under the Nuclear
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| | the peaceful nature of Iran's programme,
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| Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
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| | Iran should do its utmost to provide
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| "I do not expect the Board to adopt a
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| | maximum transparency and build
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| resolution on the Iranian issue unless
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| | confidence."
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| there is a breakthrough and unless there
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| | But he also warned against confrontation.
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| is a positive agreement," Mr. ElBaradei
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| | "The only solution I see is a
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| said. "As things stand I do not expect
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| | comprehensive agreement that covers the
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| the Board to adopt a resolution."
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| | nuclear issue, the security issue, the
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| He added that as requested by the Board
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| | economic issue and political issue," he
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| in February he would transmit his latest
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| | told reporters. "Confrontation could be
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| report to the Security Council, which has
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| | counterproductive. It would not provide
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| the power to impose economic sanctions.
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| | us with a durable solution.
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| "There is universal recognition that this
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| | "The earlier that we bring the parties
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| is an issue of serious implication to
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| | back to the negotiating table the better
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| international peace and security," he
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| | for everybody. Meantime I call on all
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| stressed. "The whole Middle East security
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| | parties to exercise maximum restraint in
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| is very much at stake."
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| | their public statements.
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| Iran says its activities are solely for
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| |
|
