3 June 2004, Islamabad, Pakistan – Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert said that the latest report of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran’s nuclear program had positive comments that could serve as the basis to move forward.  The Secretary made this statement from Islamabad, Pakistan, where she is currently on an official visit.

“I understand that the report, issued on Tuesday by the head of the IAEA Mohamed El Baradei, credited Iran with more nuclear openness although it also acknowledged that some questions remain about nearly two decades of covert activities revealed in the past two years. I also understand that Iran's top nuclear negotiator largely welcomed this report,” the Secretary said.  She added that this could be the basis of more moves within the IAEA itself to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.

The Secretary reiterated the position of the Philippines that the Iran nuclear issue be resolved within the IAEA. “We continue to believe and hope that the issue of Iran’s nuclear program can be resolved within the IAEA.  Hopefully there will be no need to refer the matter to other bodies, like the UN Security Council,” the Secretary said.

The report was issued in time for the June 14 meeting of the IAEA's 35-nation board of governors, which has wrestled for more than a year over what to do about what the United States and its allies say is a weapons program.  END.