Dear CBC:

I am using your internal Email system to complain about your article archived at
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050903/w090342.html
"Europeans threaten to refer Iranian nuclear issue to UN Security Council"
10:10 AM EDT Sep 04, 2005
GEORGE JAHN
VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Iran faced a deadline Saturday to freeze work that could enable it to make an atomic weapon. ... [ rest deleted] ...

I find this article misleading and view it as an attempt to condition world opinion to support a military attack on Iran. The very first sentence should read: �Iran faced a deadline Saturday to freeze work that could enable it to construct nuclear reactors to produce electricity for its citizens.�

I suspect that the real motive behind the U.S./European attitude towards Iran�s nuclear program is not to preclude the development of nuclear weapons; it is to preclude the development of nuclear technology for the production of electricity outside of U.S./European control. The �West� is establishing a stranglehold on the world�s oil and natural gas supplies; it appears to want to establish a similar stranglehold on nuclear fission reactor technology.

In my opinion, second-world countries (such as Iran) and even third-world countries should be encouraged (rather than discouraged) to develop nuclear programs to produce electricity for their citizens. This would contribute to third-world development (and eventually world peace) far more than all the billions in "foreign aid", presently being dumped into black holes and magically reappearing in the bank accounts of the "international money mafia".

When I worked for Atomic Energy of Canada many years ago, it was accepted that it is relatively easy to monitor nuclear material virtually down to the last nucleus. Thus, IAEA inspection procedures should be able to preclude the diversion of fissile material to produce a fission bomb -- either by governments, criminal organizations or individuals. Certainly, it would be impossible to establish a nuclear weapons program.

Regards William Zuzak, Ph.D.; 2005-09-04
Edmonton, AB
Email: [email protected]

Europeans threaten to refer Iranian nuclear issue to UN Security Council

VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Iran faced a deadline Saturday to freeze work that could enable it to make an atomic weapon. European Union representatives warned Tehran had just weeks before a likely referral to the UN Security Council.

The probability of a referral to the Security Council, which could impose sanctions, grew after an IAEA report disclosed Friday that Tehran had pumped out about seven tonnes of the gas it needs for uranium enrichment since restarting the conversion process last month. Key European countries had awaited the results of the report, setting Saturday as an informal deadline for Tehran to reimpose its freeze or face the threat of referral to Council.

Diplomats from EU countries accredited to the International Atomic Energy Agency said talks with other members of the 35-country IAEA board of governors would begin Monday in Vienna.

The diplomats - who demanded anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss Iran with the news media - said Tehran could still avoid referral by reimposing a freeze on such activities before the start of a Sept. 19 board meeting.

That appeared unlikely, however.

Iranian state television on Friday cited Ali Larijani, Iran's point-man on nuclear issues, as saying his country would "confine its co-operation with the IAEA to IAEA regulations and to defined international agreements."

Iran says it is not breaking international law by carrying out activities linked to uranium enrichment and insists its intentions are only to generate nuclear power. The United States accuses it of seeking to develop atomic weapons.

Diplomats said that as the date of the board meeting approaches, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her counterparts from France, Germany and Britain will likely get involved in drafting a resolution demanding that the Security Council deal with Iran's refusal to stop uranium conversion, a precursor to uranium enrichment.

It was unclear what reception such a resolution might receive at a full IAEA board meeting.

"China and Russia remain to be convinced," along with non-aligned board members, said a Vienna-based European diplomat.

Still, he said the Europeans, Americans and their allies were ready this time to take the issue to a vote at the board meeting, although such gatherings usually take decisions by consensus.

The report, prepared by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei, said seven tonnes of gaseous of uranium hexafluoride had been produced but did not make a determination on whether Iran was using it to pursue a nuclear weapon.

David Albright, a former IAEA nuclear inspector, said that -- were Tehran to use the material for weapons purposes -- the amount already produced would suffice for one atomic bomb.

Tehran last month rejected economic and other incentives offered by Britain, France and Germany -- negotiating on behalf of the 25-member EU - and resumed uranium conversion.

Iran argues that it has a right to enrichment for peaceful purposes. Friday's IAEA report also said that despite more than 2 1/2 years of investigation, questions remain about key aspects of Iran's 18 years of clandestine nuclear activity and that it still was unable "to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran."

"Iran's full transparency is indispensable and overdue," said the confidential document obtained by The Associated Press.

� The Canadian Press, 2005