Statement by Britain’s Beckett on UNSCR 1747

Iran Focus: London, Mar. 25 – The following is the text of a statement by British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett on the adoption of Resolution 1747 by the United Nations Security Council on Saturday imposing sanctions on Iran: Iran Focus

London, Mar. 25 – The following is the text of a statement by British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett on the adoption of Resolution 1747 by the United Nations Security Council on Saturday imposing sanctions on Iran:

BECKETT WELCOMES UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1747 ON IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAMME (24/03/07)

Speaking about UN Security Council Resolution 1747 on Iran’s nuclear programme, the Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett said:

‘I welcome this Security Council Resolution. Its adoption unanimously underlines yet again that the international community stands together in ensuring that Iran does not develop the means to acquire nuclear weapons. It is a proportionate and incremental response to Iran’s failure to comply with the requirement of the IAEA Board and Security Council that it suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activity.

‘I also attach great importance to the statement delivered by our Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry this afternoon on behalf of the Foreign Ministers of the E3 plus 3, reaffirming the whole group’s commitment to a negotiated solution on the basis of the far reaching proposals that we agreed in Vienna last June. These proposals would give Iran everything it needs to develop a modern civil nuclear power programme, legally guaranteed supplies of nuclear fuel and provide a basis for wider political, security and economic co-operation.

‘I urge Iran once again to take the opportunity to suspend its enrichment related and reprocessing activities and co-operate fully with the IAEA. This would allow for the suspension of measures, and the opening of negotiations which would bring far reaching benefits to the Iranian people. If Iran does not take this opportunity, then, as the Resolution makes clear the Security Council will have no choice but to implement additional measures.

‘The choice is Iran’s. I hope that it takes the positive path.

‘We again urge Iran to suspend its enrichment related and reprocessing activities and co-operate fully with the IAEA to allow negotiations to go forward.’