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Tehran Mulls Taking UN Atomic Agency To Hague Court
Vienna, 10 March. (AKI) - A member of the Iranian delegation to the UN atomic energy agency board meeting in Vienna says Tehran may take the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the International Tribunal in the Hague. The Iranian diplomat, who asked to remain anonymous, underlined that under the IAEA statute, no signatory of the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT) can be asked to suspend its nuclear activities. "Almost all the 16 resolutions approved by the IAEA on Iran ask our country to suspend part of its nuclear programme" he said. "There are all the conditions to bring the IAEA to the international court, given that under article 17 of this body's statute the competent court for disputes between the agencies and member states is the Hague" the diplomat added. Western nations, spearheaded by the US, argue that Tehran's failure to fully comply with the NPT's delegated monitoring body, the IAEA, means it is reneging its obligations as an NPT signatory. In the Iranian capital there are also rumours that the government plans to open up a second judicial battle front, this time to request financial compensation for the damage suffered from the suspension of uranium enrichment. In this second case, the government is reportedly considering denouncing the governments of Britain, France and Germany - all members of the EU trio which has for two years been engotiating with Tehran to ensure transparency in its nuclear activities and reassure the international community that its civilian nuclear programme is not a cover for creating atomic weapons. These government, according to Tehran, are guilty of not having respected an accord signed in Paris on 15 November 2004 with the government of former president Mohammed Khatami. Posted by: Steve 2006-03-10 |
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