KEVIN RUDD M.P.

Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and   International Security

REFERRAL OF IRAN TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL

Labor welcomes the referral of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s report  on Iran’s Implementation of Nuclear Safeguards to the UN Security Council.

The international community is justifiably concerned about Iran’s continued  flouting of its obligations under the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and  its failure to come clean about its nuclear program.

Labor’s believes that the Security Council must adopt a clear cut resolution  which stipulates Iran’s obligations to submit to IAEA oversight and open it  facilities to IAEA inspections.



Given the high stakes at play in the international community’s efforts to hold  Iran to account under the NPT, John Howard’s flirtation with selling uranium  outside the NPT is a potentially dangerous development.



The lack of clarity in the Howard Government’s position only serves to  undermine the NPT at a time when the international community is trying to hold  Iran to account against the safeguards regime under the Treaty.



While no-one is contending that India is a proliferating state, the fact is we  simply cannot afford to weaken the safeguards regime established under the  NPT during this critical period of diplomacy on the future of Iran’s nuclear  program and nuclear ambitions.



Labor calls on the Howard Government to clarify its support for the NPT and  rule out the export of uranium to any state unless and until that state joins the  NPT.



Ends 10 March 2006.

Contact: Alister Jordan 0417 605 823

