Secretary-General welcomes Moscow talks on Iran’s uranium enrichment
Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed reports confirming that Iran will hold talks in Moscow on 20 February on a
Russian proposal on uranium enrichment, according to a statement released by his spokesman today.
“As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Russia’s contribution to bringing all sides back to the
negotiating table is vital,” said the spokesman, Stephane Dujarric.
Mr. Dujarric said that the Secretary-General trusts that Iran will use the talks in Moscow and the period between now
and early March to take the necessary steps to rebuild confidence that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively for
peaceful purposes.
“He hopes that Iran will respond positively to the resolutions adopted by the IAEA Board of Governors on the
implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said.
“It is time for all those Governments who support and rely on this regime for their own and our collective security to
help resolve this crisis in a way that maintains the regime’s integrity and effectiveness,” concluded Mr. Dujarric’s
statement.