Brussels, 20/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - Although the UN Security Council is now in charge of the Iranian nuclear affair, EU Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday pointed out in their conclusions that, “The EU continues to be committed to a diplomatic solution” for resolving the Iranian nuclear question. The Council stressed that, “the Security Council is currently considering appropriate steps. The Council believes that the Security Council should act to reinforce the authority of the IAEA”. The Council again urged Iran to completely suspend its uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities.
In this context, representatives from the five permanent members of the Security Council (USA, France, United Kingdom, Russia and China), as well as Germany (as part of the EU-3) met on Monday to attempt to reduce their divergences and reach an agreement on the draft presidential declaration calling on Tehran to put a stop to its enrichment programme and comply with the IAEA's demands.
The Council said that the EU considered the nuclear question as, “a central and pressing concern” and underlined “the necessity that Iran addresses effectively all the EU's areas of concern” particularly terrorism, the Middle East Peace Process and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. On Monday the Council deplored the, “deterioration of the human rights situation in Iran and condemns the violence used against peaceful protest on International Women's Day”. It also called for the “Iranian authorities to release all other prisoners of conscience immediately and unconditionally”. The Council reaffirmed that “full respect for human rights in Iran is essential, also for progress in EU/Iran relations”.