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NAM Chair Malaysia Skeptical of UNSC Involvement

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar stated on January 24, 2006, that all countries have the right to access nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Albar noted Iran's current nuclear activities are sanctioned by international law, rules and regulations, particularly under the Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). Alluding to the current nuclear impasse, the foreign minister stressed the need to continue dialogue as the best possible means of settling the problem. Recalling Iran's readiness to continue nuclear talks and measures it has adopted to convince the international community of the peaceful nature of its nuclear programs, Albar also claimed that Iran's proposals to the international community and cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency's inspectors during visits to nuclear sites proved Iran has no secret nuclear weapons program.

As the current chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) the Malaysian foreign minister along with the foreign ministers of the Republic of South Africa and Cuba issued a joint statement regarding the Iranian nuclear program. The statement urged "all parties concerned to exhaust all efforts through dialogue and negotiations", and also insisted that the issue of Iran's nuclear program "should be resolved within the framework of the (International Atomic Energy) Agency" and not the UN Security Council as called for in the recent resolution by the IAEA Board of Governors. The NAM troika statement also cited Article IV of the NPT and stressed "the basic and inalienable right of all states party to the NPT to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes".

In addition to the Troika statement, Malaysia made a statement on behalf of the NAM before the vote was taken on the Iran resolution.


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