The Iranian nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully through
diplomatic negotiations, a Chinese representative said in Vienna on
Wednesday.
It was the wish of the international community that the Iranian
nuclear issue be resolved this way, Chinese Permanent
Representative to the UN and Other International Organizations in
Vienna Tang Guoqiang told the meeting of the Board of Governors of
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
"We should continue our joint efforts to this end, and avoid the
easy option of abandonment of such efforts," Tang said.
He said that should the Iranian nuclear issue be properly
addressed, it would contribute to the maintenance of peace and
stability in the Middle East, defend the international nuclear
non-proliferation regime, and ensure the right of some countries to
peaceful use of nuclear energy on the premise of the full
implementation of the NPT obligations.
It would also help strengthen the agency's authority, he
said.
He said the Iranian nuclear issue faced both opportunities and
challenges.
On one hand, Iran had responded to the incentives package aimed
at resolving the issue and diplomatic negotiation efforts were
continuing.
On the other hand, the relevant parties remain concerned about
how Iran would meet the requirement of the resolution of the Board
of Governors and Resolution 1696 of the UN Security Council.
The Iranian nuclear program still contained issues that needed
to be clarified, he said.
Tang said the priority for the time being was to maintain
dialogue and contact among the concerned parties, promote mutual
understanding of each other's concerns and clarify ambiguities.
Meanwhile, diplomatic wisdom and creative thinking should also
be allowed to play their parts in seeking solutions to the
issue.
The Chinese representative indicated that China hoped Iran would
implement the relevant resolutions and decisions of the U.N.
Security Council and the Board of the Agency, continue to cooperate
fully with the Agency, clarify the outstanding problems, adopt a
constructive approach, demonstrate flexibility on issues of concern
from the international community and establish the conditions for
resuming the negotiations.
Other related parties, Tang said, should continue to keep calm
and exercise restraint, stick to the direction of peaceful
resolution, display flexibility and make joint efforts to create a
favorable atmosphere for the resumption of negotiations.
China welcomed all efforts made by the relevant parties for a
peaceful resolution through diplomatic means, he said.
Tang said China supported the IAEA to continue playing an
important role in seeking a resolution of the Iranian nuclear
issue.
The Security Council should aim at strengthening the authority
of the Agency and be in favor of the efforts by the international
community to promote negotiation, he said.
Tang reiterated that China's position on the Iranian nuclear
issue was consistent.
Turning to the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula, Tang said
that China has consistently advocated for the resolution of the
issue through dialogue and negotiations.
The denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and the maintenance
of its peace and stability form a consensus shared by all the
parties concerned and a common wish of the international community,
the Chinese ambassador said.
(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2006)
