Press Releases

Council President Schüssel on Iran’s nuclear programme and the Palestinian elections

Council President and Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel commented on Iran’s nuclear programme and the Palestinian elections following talks on Thursday, 26 January with French Prime Minister Dominique Villepin:

“Mohamed El Baradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has expressed his grave concern over Iran’s nuclear programme which, sooner or later, can and will lead to Iran’s nuclear armament. The world community must act in this matter. The solution is simple: Russia has submitted a very sensible plan which essentially builds on Mohamed El Baradei’s proposal, and which could be used as a model for similar problem cases. The plan involves setting up enrichment stocks under international supervision. These would enable countries which use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes to draw on enriched uranium, without coming into contact with military technology. This is a very sensible proposal and an attractive offer. The European Union lends its unreserved support to this move. Europe could help and, together with the Iranian Government, do a lot to assist the Iranian people”, emphasised Wolfgang Schüssel.

Furthermore, Council President Schüssel was very pleased with the high turnout for the Palestinian elections, which was a positive sign and reflected the interest of the Palestinian people. “Overall, the elections appear to have been fair. In Mahmoud Abbas we have a partner we can trust. He has shown that he takes the moves for peace and the recognition of Israel very seriously. We do not wish therefore to speak of individual parties. Now is the time to form a Palestinian government which follows the path the European Union supports: promoting a peaceful development in Palestine in the interests of its citizens, paving the way for an end to violence and reaching a negotiated peace settlement for the Middle East on the basis of the two-state solution. That is paramount. We must enter into dialogue with these principles in mind”, stated Council President Schüssel.