South Africa remains concerned that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is still unable to draw any conclusions regarding North Korea’s nuclear activities, Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said on Monday.
”It is our hope that [North Korea] will return to the NPT [Non-Proliferation Treaty], eliminate all its nuclear weapons and place all its material and facilities under IAEA safeguards,” she said during the 51st session of the IAEA general conference in Vienna, Austria.
South Africa welcomed the positive developments towards finding a lasting solution, including the initial actions agreed to during the six-party talks earlier this year.
”In particular, we welcome the ad-hoc monitoring and verification arrangement that is being implemented by the agency with the cooperation of [North Korea],” she said.
Regarding the implementation of NPT safeguards in Iran, South Africa noted the agency continued to be able to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran.
South Africa was further pleased to note that Iran had been providing the agency with access to declared nuclear material, including providing the required nuclear material accountancy reports in connection with the declared nuclear material and facilities.
”It is further noteworthy that important progress has been made to resolve some of the outstanding issues regarding Iran’s nuclear programme,” Sonjica said.
”Through the full implementation of the agreed work plan between the agency and Iran and in accordance with the timelines set out therein, the necessary confidence will be created that could spark the resumption of negotiations between Iran and all concerned parties.
”This would avoid a confrontation, which no one desires and which would have catastrophic consequences for all.
”We believe that the director general, through his wise and innovative leadership, has placed us on a path of resolving in a peaceful way the issues surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme,” she said. — Sapa