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Date : 12/01/2006
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
Title: Dlamini Zuma: Meeting with USA Secretary of State, Dr C Rice


Transcript of South Africa’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma’s remarks after meeting with the United States of America’s Secretary of State, Dr Condoleezza Rice, at the US State Department, Washington DC

Question: Asked on what they discussed with the Secretary of State, Dr Condoleezza Rice on Iran

Answer: Minister Dlamini Zuma responded by stating that as widely reported, Iran has decided to break the seals and continue (with their enrichment programme), "so (we - Dr Zuma and Dr Rice) were reflecting on what that means and obviously the decision would have to be taken by the Board of Governors (BoG) so, there may be a meeting of the BoG to see how they react to that situation".

Question: Follow–up question on how the negotiations process should unfold and the role that South Africa should play in assisting in the resolution.

Answer: Minister Dlamini Zuma indicated that "Well, it (such a decision) would have to be on very clear terms of where we are going and how we get there, but we have been supporting the negotiations with the European Union (EU), maybe those negotiations should continue”.

Question: Do you think Iran should be referred to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)? Do you think there should be an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)?

Answer: Minister Dlamini Zuma said: "I don’t want to prejudge what the BoG would decide, but the BoG would look at all the facts and obviously all the conditions and take appropriate decisions.”

Question: Do you think the talks have reached a dead end in terms of their usefulness?

Answer: “Well, I think even if it goes to the UNSC, the talks would still have to continue. So I think talking cannot stop, even because even if the matter goes to the UNSC, either way discussions must continue in or outside there.”

Question: But given the fruitlessness of the talks thus far does South Africa think that sanctions should be taken to Iran?

Answer: Well, South Africa as you know is a country that believes in multilateralism. We participate in the BoG, so obviously we will be participating there and we will support the collective decisions that will be taken by the BoG.

Question: But do you think that Iran has crossed the red line?

Answer: Well, I think they have broken some of the agreements that they had reached with the EU, even though it was a voluntary moratorium, but of course it was part of the EU Agreements.

Question: Do you have good relations with Iran, will you pressure them to take a different route?

Answer: Well, we have been talking to Iran, we have been talking to the EU, we will participate in the Board, we will continue, but we don’t necessarily have a big influence on anybody.

Further reiterating earlier principles mentioned, Minister Dlamini Zuma emphasised that SA believes in the multilateral system so clearly if a Board took a collective decision, SA would be part of that collective decision, so "I wouldn’t like to prejudge what will happen."

On Zimbabwe:

When asked whether the meeting between Dr Zuma and Dr Rice discussed Zimbabwe:

Answer: Minister Dlamini Zuma responded by stating that "It didn’t actually, (Zimbabwe as an issue did not arise) we didn’t discuss it, no, no…. we discussed Iran, Sudan, United Nations reforms, so we didn’t only focus on Iran, but we didn’t discuss Zimbabwe”.

Question: Did Madame Secretary say that there might be an emergency meeting, perhaps in two weeks’ time, convened by the BoG on Iran?

Answer: Well she didn’t put any time frames, but she just said there would have to be a meeting of the BoG, but she didn’t say exactly when. Thank you!

Enquiries: Nomfanelo Kota
Cell: 082 459 3787

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
11 January 2005

   

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