Van der Linden: Iran moet ruimhartig Europees aanbod voor nucleaire samenwerking accepteren (en)

Strasbourg, 03.08.2005 - René van der Linden, President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), today called on the authorities of Iran not to bypass the historic opportunity to come to an agreement with France, Germany and the United Kingdom on its nuclear programme. "The EU offer is indeed generous and will lead to a `win-win' situation for all parties," he said.

The President recalled Resolution 1436 (2005), adopted by PACE in April 2005, which he said "gave due consideration to Iran's legitimate security and economic concerns", but nonetheless condemned the incompatibility of its nuclear activities with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which it is a party. Iran borders three Council of Europe member states.

The President reiterated the Assembly's confidence in the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency and its support for the European initiative. "The Assembly, for its part, is ready to engage in a dialogue with Iran for an open society and democratic values'', the President said.

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