Krishna to clarify to Iran India's position on IAEA vote

Sreeparna C Mukhuty

On Board Special Aircraft, May 13 (PTI) India will use
External Affairs Minister S M Krishna's visit to Iran this
week to "further clarify" its position on the vote against
Tehran at the summit of the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA.

The visit "will give me an opportunity under the G-15
meetings to have bilateral talks with the Iranian Foreign
Minister and further clarify whatever we have said," Krishna
told reporters on his way back from his two-day visit to
Kazakhstan.
He was asked about the Indian vote against Iran. India
had last year backed an international resolution against Iran
over its nuclear programme while making it clear that it was
opposed to "a renewed punitive approach or sanctions" against
that country. It had favoured dialogue to resolve the issue.
Asked whether India's relations with Iran had been
affected by the vote, the Minister said, "...Naturaly Iran was
not pleased with our vote. But we have explained our position
and I hope that Iran would be able to understand and
appreciate our position".
The minister said that the relationship between the
two countries has been very smooth despite the vote issue.
"But that was done under broad policy parameters which
we had drawn for ourselves and we have explained our goal to
Iran because it is a friendly power," he said.
"In the relationship between two countries, there
could be times when on one issue there could be certain
divergence of views.... That should not halt the overall
relationship of friendship between our two countries," Krishna
said.
"We respect Iran's eagerness to develop nuclear energy
for peaceful purposes just like we did when we started it," he
said.
Asked about the status of the Iran-India gas pipeline,
Krishna said, "That certainly will be one of the aspects of my
discussions with Iran.
"We have always been supportive of the gas pipeline
involving India, Pakistan and Iran and that is part of the
energy security that we are looking forward to... and we hope
that we are able to clinch the issue".
But, the only two things which are delaying the
negotiations "are the cost, the price and the security," he
said, adding unless these issues are effectively resolved, no
progress would be possible. "I hope there is going to be an
earnestness from both sides to complete the negotiations".
The External Affairs Minister will leave for Iran on
May 15 on a bilateral visit and attend the G-15 meeting on May
17-18. PTI SPC
RBT