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'[T]here must be objective guarantees', US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meets with French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, July 5, 2005

'No Nuclear Weapons for Iran, Say Rice, French Foreign Minister, Washington File, July 5, 2005.

U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesman
July 5, 2005

REMARKS

SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE
AND FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER PHILIPPE DOUSTE-BLAZY
AFTER THEIR MEETING

Benjamin Franklin
Washington, D.C.
(1:30 p.m. EDT)

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) We have understood that the Europeans are about to make a proposal to the Iranis, and would the U.S. be prepared to include a proposal which would -- to accept a proposal which would include a transfer of technology for civil nuclear energy? Would this be acceptable to the Americans?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, of course, we're in very close contact with our European counterparts as they continue these negotiations and we do urge the Iranians, by the way, to continue these discussions. It is still Iran's best opportunity to demonstrate that it is prepared to live up to its international obligations.

It is still our view that this must proceed from the terms of the Paris agreement and that that means that there must be objective guarantees that Iran is not surreptitiously gaining the technology or technological know-how that might lead to the development of a nuclear weapon. And that means enrichment, reprocessing, and the entire -- all of the activities associated with the fuel cycle.

And we have been very clear that we do not see the need for civilian nuclear power in Iran, but for instance, we have taken note of the way that Russia has safeguarded or intends to safeguard the Bushehr nuclear reactor, making certain that there is assured fuel supply but a take-back provision to diminish proliferation risks.

So we will continue to consult with our European colleagues as they move forward.

FOREIGN MINISTER DOUSTE-BLAZY: Yes, as you're mentioning Europe, I'd like to say a few words. I'd like to say that France was the first to start the negotiations and discussions with Iran on the possibility of having civil nuclear energy. And, obviously, we have taken note with the European Union of the election of President Ahmadinejad and we must say that we, as others, regret that not all candidates were able to run in the election. But that's where we are now and we must now continue our diplomatic relations with Iran so as to make sure that they abide by the spirit, as Dr. Rice has said, of the Paris agreement of the 4th of November 2004 and that they suspend the reprocessing of hazardous nuclear material.

In Kaliningrad, a few days ago, the Russian President along with President Chirac and Chancellor Schroeder, also unequivocally said that he was in favor of the suspension of proliferation. And now, I think what we need to do is to base ourselves on finding a package which is credible for the Iranis so as to make sure that they have -- to provide them with things like technical agreement -- provide them meteorology equipment or seismology equipment or other, and to make sure, also, that we discuss with them the security of their country.

And for this, we shall need the United States and we shall talk with them before proposing the package -- making the proposal. But I must say that our ultimate -- objective is to ensure that there is a suspension of the enrichment and reprocessing of hazardous nuclear material...

QUESTION: Philippe (inaudible) Le Figaro. Just one thing to come back to the Iran issue. Madame Secretary, do you agree with the word "suspension" that the French Minister just used?

Is that good enough for the United States?

SECRETARY RICE: Well, the Paris agreement is initially about suspension, but ultimately the world has to be assured that Iran cannot have this capability. And that will ultimately have to be objective guarantees and we believe that means cessation. But as a starting point, and as the negotiations are now underway, the first and most important step had been to make certain that the suspension is maintained; but no, we believe that it has to be cessation.

But the key here is to have negotiations that are serious. And we believe that the EU negotiations with Iran are serious negotiations. The question here -- let's remember what it is we are trying to do, and what we're trying to do is to make certain that Iran does not have the technology or technological know-how that could be turned from civilian use to the making of a nuclear weapon.

FOREIGN MINISTER DOUSTE-BLAZY: I think while we're here, it's absolutely basic to remember that the word of the Paris agreement is indeed suspension. But having spoken with them and having made a proposal, I think it's absolutely necessary to state that the Europeans will never accept a resumption of the Iranian military nuclear activities.

Source: US Department of State, Washington File, http://usinfo.state.gov.

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