VIENNA, Sept 13 (KUNA) -- The Non-Aligned Movement member states reiterated Thursday confidence in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s professionalism in resolving the disputes related to the application of NPT safeguards.

"The Vienna Chapter of the Non-Aligned Movement wishes to thank the Director General, Mr. Yukiya Amano, for his report on the Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran as contained in document GOV/2012/37," NAM said in a statement read out by Representative of the rotating presidency of the NAM Ali Asghar Soltanieh.

"NAM wishes to reiterate its confidence in the professionalism and impartiality of the IAEA Secretariat in carrying out its activities concerning the application of NPT safeguards in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Solanieh, also Iran's Ambassador to the IAEA, reiterated NAM principled positions on the matter the use of atomic energy.

"NAM reaffirms the basic and inalienable right of all states to the development, research, production and use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes, without any discrimination and in conformity with their respective legal obligations," "Therefore, nothing should be interpreted in a way as inhibiting or restricting the right of states to develop atomic energy for peaceful purposes. States' choices and decisions, including those of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear technology and its fuel cycle policies must be respected.

NAM underlined that IAEA is the sole competent authority to monitor and verify the applications of NPT safeguards. "NAM recognizes the IAEA as the sole competent authority for verification of the respective safeguards obligations of Member States and stresses that there should be no undue pressure or interference in the Agency's activities, specially its verification process, which would jeopardize the efficiency and credibility of the Agency." NAM emphasized the fundamental distinction between the legal obligations of states in accordance with their respective safeguards agreements, as opposed to any confidence building measures undertaken voluntarily and that do not constitute a legal safeguards obligation.

NAM urged the IAEA to exert more efforts to help create a nuke weapons-free Middle East.

"NAM considers the establishment of a nuclear-weapons-free-zone (NWFZ) in the Middle East as a positive step towards attaining the objective of global nuclear disarmament and reiterates its support for the establishment of such a zone in accordance with relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions.

NAM reaffirmed the inviolability of peaceful nuclear activities and that any attack or threat of attack against peaceful nuclear facilities poses a serious danger and constitutes a grave violation of international law "NAM recognizes the need for a comprehensive multilaterally negotiated instrument prohibiting attacks, or threat of attacks on nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful uses of nuclear energy," the statement added.

NAM took note that the Director General has stated once again that the Agency has been able to continue to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran at nuclear facilities and locations outside facilities where nuclear material is customarily used (LOFs) as declared by Iran under its Safeguards Agreement.

With regard to the implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic, NAM thanked IAEA Director General, Mr. Yukiya Amano, for his report on the Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic as contained in document GOV/2012/42 "NAM wishes to recall the position expressed in this regard in the Final Declaration adopted by the Summit of NAM Heads of State and Government held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in July 2009 and reaffirmed by the Summit of NAM Heads of State and Government held in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, in August 2012 that I now quote: "The Heads of State and Government underscored the Movement's principled position concerning non-use or threat of use of force against the territorial integrity of any State. In this regard, they condemned the Israeli attack against a Syrian facility on September 6, 2007, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and welcomed Syria's cooperation with the IAEA in this regard." As was recognized in the Director General's Report to the November 2008 Board, the Agency was severely hampered in discharging its responsibilities under Syria's NPT Safeguards Agreement by the unilateral use of force by Israel and by the late provision of information by some Member States concerning the building at the Dair Alzour site.

"Bearing in mind the serious consequences of such acts, NAM deeply regrets that the Board has not expressed itself clearly in this regard, "NAM welcomes Syria's resolve to continue cooperating with the Agency, in particular, its readiness to fully cooperate with the Agency to resolve all outstanding issues related to the Dair Alzour site in accordance with its commitments under the Agency's Statute." NAM encouraged Syria and the IAEA Secretariat to continue cooperating with a view to resolving any remaining issues that relate to information, activities and locations that are in accordance with the provisions of Syria's comprehensive safeguards agreement with the Agency.

NAM urged all Member States to avoid any undue pressure or interference in the Agency's activities, especially in its verification process, which would jeopardize the efficiency and credibility of the Agency.

"In this regard, NAM supports the Director General's previous call on other States, including Israel, which may possess information relevant to the Agency's verification, to make such information available to the Agency, and to authorize the Agency to share it with Syria, "NAM also calls on Israel to cooperate fully with the Agency in providing it with comprehensive information on the nature of the materials used by Israel in its attack on the Dair Alzour site." With regard to the application of IAEA safeguards in the Middle East, NAM stated that stability cannot be achieved in a region where massive imbalances in military capabilities are maintained particularly through the possession of nuclear weapons, which allow one party to threaten its neighbors, and the region.

"NAM considers the establishment of a nuclear-weapons-free-zone (NWFZ) in the Middle East as a positive step towards attaining the objective of global nuclear disarmament and reiterates its support for the establishment of such a zone in accordance with relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, "NAM is convinced that the effective and efficient application of IAEA safeguards in the Middle East promotes greater confidence among States in the region. Accordingly, NAM considers that achieving the universality of comprehensive IAEA safeguards in the Middle East region is the first practical step towards that end, and is a necessary step towards the establishment of a NWFZ therein." NAM regrets Israel's continued defiance to that Agency and its failure to join the NPT agreement.

"NAM welcomes that its Member States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) conclude comprehensive safeguards agreements with the Agency in fulfillment of their obligation under paragraph 1 of Article III of the Treaty, as Non-Nuclear- Weapons States (NNWS). NAM notes that all States of the Middle East region except for Israel are parties to the NPT and have undertaken to accept comprehensive Agency safeguards, "NAM regrets Israel's continued insistence that Agency safeguards cannot be addressed in isolation from the regional peace process. NAM emphasizes that there is no automatic sequence which links the application of comprehensive safeguards to all nuclear activities in the Middle East, to the prior conclusion of a peace settlement, and that the former would contribute to the latter."