2ND EU warns Iran, North Korea, urges Georgia-Russia talks

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Tuesday October 17, 2006

Luxembourg- European Union foreign ministers Tuesday demanded an immediate halt to the Iranian and North Korean nuclear programmes amid rising concern at the global proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Ministers, ending a two-day meeting in Luxembourg, also voiced "grave concern" at the increasingly bitter diplomatic row between Russia and Georgia triggered by the brief detention of four Russian military officers in Tbilisi last month.

They said the 25-nation bloc was ready to help resolve the crisis peacefully by facilitating "mutual confidence-building" measures between Moscow and Tbilisi.

"We are ready to help find a diplomatic solution," said EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, adding: "It is important that they tone down their rhetoric."

EU chief diplomat Javier Solana predicted a "frank exchange of views" on the issue between the bloc's leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin at an EU summit in Finland on Friday.

Putin has been invited to attend the talks by the current Finnish EU presidency.

Underlining the need for a "balanced European approach," Solana said the EU was determined to further develop its strategic partnership with Russia - the bloc's leading supplier of oil and gas - but also wanted to deepen relations with Georgia.

The meeting was largely dominated by growing fears that Pyongyang's nuclear test and Iran's defiant refusal to halt uranium enrichment could trigger an international nuclear arms race.

Solana told reporters it was imperative to act quickly to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction worldwide.

Pyongyang's nuclear test was "serious, unacceptable and irresponsible" and threatened the stability of the region, said Ferrero-Waldner.

There was concern that Pyongyang could sell its nuclear technology to other countries, she said.

But China's support for United Nations sanctions against North Korea showed that the international community could not be divided over the issue, she added.

German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier also underlined that Pyongyang's nuclear test made it even more urgent to resolve the crisis over Iran's uranium enrichment activities.

"Of course there is a particular urgency because of events in North Korea," said Steinmeier.

A statement issued by ministers called on Pyongyang to sign and ratify the nuclear test ban treaty, to refrain from conducting any further nuclear test or missile launch and to re-establish a missile launch moratorium.

North Korea's actions "add to the risk of proliferation worldwide," said the statement.

EU ministers also urged Pyongyang to come back to the six-party talks - with South Korea, China, Russia, Japan and the US - aimed at eliminating nuclear weapons from the Korean peninsula.

Ministers vowed to fully implement UN sanctions against Pyongyang, including a ban on the sale of major arms to North Korea and the inspection of cargo to and from the country.

The UN has also called for the freezing of assets of companies linked to Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic weapons programmes.

A statement by EU ministers said Iran's refusal to negotiate with the EU had left the bloc "with no choice" but to start consultations in the UN on possible sanctions.

"The door to negotiation nevertheless remained open," said the statement.

A decision on sanctions would be taken in New York shortly, said Steinmeier but this did not mean the EU was giving up on securing a diplomatic deal with Tehran.

But the sanctions package would be calibrated in order to ensure that Iran could return to the negotiating table to discuss the EU's offer of civilian nuclear technology in exchange for a suspension of uranium enrichment, he said.

"This cannot be the end of talks with Iran," said Steinmeier.

Javier Solana, who has been engaged in sporadic discussions with Tehran, said he was determined not to give up efforts to clinch a diplomatic deal.

"I'm going to put all the effort that I can," said the indefatigable Solana, adding: "We have to see if we can overcome the situation that makes it impossible to start negotiations."

Echoing similar views, Ferrero-Waldner said the EU had shown a "lot of patience" with Iran but now expected Tehran to respond to the EU's "far-reaching offer" to help develop the country's civilian nuclear sector.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency