Annan encourages Iran to take good use of talks with Russia

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan encouraged Iran on Friday to make a good use of the coming talks with Russia, and called for a solution of the Iranian nuclear crisis in a way that maintains the integrity and effectiveness of the nonproliferation regime.

In a statement released by his spokesman, Annan welcomed reports confirming that Iran will hold talks in Moscow on Monday on a Russian proposal on uranium enrichment.

"As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia's contribution to bringing all sides back to the negotiating table is vital," he observed.

Annan trusted that Iran will use the talks in Moscow and the period between now and early March to take the necessary steps to re-build confidence that Iran's nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes.

He hoped that Iran will respond positively to the resolutions adopted by the IAEA Board of Governors on the implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Meanwhile, the secretary-general stressed that "such steps would be welcomed by the international community, not least as the present situation has implications beyond Iran."

"If not resolved in a timely manner, it will have negative consequences for regional and international security and for the future of the nuclear nonproliferation regime itself," he added.

"It is time for all those governments who support and rely on this regime for their own and our collective security to help resolve this crisis in a way that maintains the regime's integrity and effectiveness," Annan concluded.

According to the UN spokesman office, the secretary-general held talks with Iran's UN representative Friday afternoon.

Source: Xinhua