



MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS  HON ALEXANDER DOWNER, MP



TRANSCRIPTION: PROOF COPY E & OE



DATE: September 20 2005

TITLE: Doorstop - United Nations - New York



Journalist: (Question on North Korea)

Minister Downer: Well, look, I think we’ve, all got to get this into some perspective. I think  the fact that there has been an agreement on the principles is a very good step forward that  really is a significant step forward. But remember all that’s been reached is an agreement on  principles and the implementation of this agreement I think is going to take a good deal of  time and a lot of work - I don’t have any illusions about how hard it will be to implement.   You know, there will be some people who are sceptical about the commitment of the North  Koreans to implement these principles, bearing in mind what happened under the previous  agreement that North Korea had under the Clinton administration but, we’ll have to wait and  see- I don’t think at this stage we should do anything but continue to encourage all the parties  to implement the principles but at least it provides a platform from which, we can build a  really good outcome, so- and that’s, that’s not overstating the achievements but let’s  understand that this is a very important step forward.

Journalist: On Iran, the U.S. State department has just said that Iran’s stand at the United  Nations which they called compromising has served to isolate the Islamic Republic in terms  of the International Community and their programs. Do you think you agree with that?  (inaudible)

Minister Downer: Well, I was disappointed with his speech- I think, we would like to feel  that, Iran would contribute to the global non-proliferation regime. I think for us, the stopping  of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is a, is a fundamental tenet of international  security and ah, we had hoped that Iran’s agreement with the European Union would hold up.  Now, my concern is that that agreement is now not going to be implemented by the Iranians  and they think they should proceed with their nuclear program. That’s of, of great concern to  us, but over and above that, the International Atomic Energy Agency has been concerned that  Iran hasn’t always fulfilled its obligations under the IAEA.  So this is a matter that is being  considered by the Board of Governors now and many of the members of the Board of  Governors, including Australia, believe that this is a matter that should be referred to the  United Nations Security Council for further consideration.

Inquiries:  (02) 6277 7500 1



Inquiries:  (02) 6277 7500 2

Journalist: There, there seems to be an agreement though that if it were to go to the Security  Council it would not pass because of the objections of China and Russia who have made very  it clear that, that …



Minister Downer: Well, there are a lot of different ways, there are a lot of different ways it  could be, this matter could be handled by the Security Council - we’d hope that the Iranian  Government would be reconsider its position, I mean, what we’re asking I think, as an  International community, of Iran is reasonable we’re very disappointed that the position the  Iranian Government has so far taken - we hope that they’ll reconsider their position.

Journalist: You’re going to be meeting with the Iranian representative later today, and also  with Ambassador Bolton. What will you be discussing in both of those meetings and what do  you hope to achieve?



Minister Downer: Well, in my meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister, I’d like to  encourage him to think again to ensure that Iran can be a full participant in the mainstream of  the International community, amongst other things, involves a commitment to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and as you know, the concern we have about  Iran going down the nuclear path is a very serious concern and is held by many countries.



For Ambassador Bolton and I - there are a lot of different things to talk about. Obviously, I  will share those things with him and ah, share views about North Korea.

Journalist: On another subject- earlier today, Simon Wiesenthal, (the holocaust survivor and  Nazi hunter) died.  What importance would you place (inaudible…)

Minister Downer: Well, I think he was a wonderful man who dedicated his life to fighting  racism and to bringing to justice people who had perpetrated egregious crimes, including  genocide, and I think the world can be thankful to Simon Wiesenthal for setting a benchmark  for anti-racism.  A man who didn’t only fight anti-Semitism but who fought other types of  racism as well and his death should be an opportunity for us to reflect on the evils of racism,  the sorrow, the pain of racism, the humiliation of racism and the importance for the  International community understanding that all people are of equal value regardless of their  colour, regardless of their ethnicity.  And he stood for those things.  So we are grateful for his  life and we are grateful for what he did.



(end)

