AFP: UN Security Council member Greece said Thursday it regretted that Iran’s resumption of nuclear research looked set to scupper diplomatic efforts to break the deadlock with the international community. ATHENS, Jan 12, 2006 (AFP) – UN Security Council member Greece said Thursday it regretted that Iran’s resumption of nuclear research looked set to scupper diplomatic efforts to break the deadlock with the international community.
“We regret very much that a diplomatic effort Greece had supported … seems to be heading towards suspension,” Greek foreign ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos said in a statement.
“Referral of the issue to the UN Security Council is clearly more likely.”
Greece still favours a diplomatic solution, but also “condemns any nuclear programme that does not respect the rules of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)”, the foreign ministry statement said.
Responding to Iran’s decision to resume sensitive nuclear fuel work, Europe’s three major powers on Thursday asked for an emergency meeting of the IAEA to refer the issue to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.
Greece is a non-permanent member of the 15-nation council, along with Argentina, Congo, Denmark, Ghana, Japan, Peru, Qatar, Slovakia and Tanzania.
