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| 28 March 2004 | Sunday | 06 Safar 1425 |
Clarification sought from IAEA
ISLAMABAD, March 27: Pakistan on Friday sought clarification from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) spokesperson regarding her remarks about a request for inspection of Pakistan's nuclear facilities, Dawn learnt through diplomatic sources on Saturday.
The Pakistan Mission in Vienna contacted the IAEA spokeswoman, Ms Melissa Fleming, to seek clarification on the remarks attributed to her in a press report on Friday, the sources said.
The IAEA spokesperson was quoted as saying that the agency had sought permission for inspection of some "relevant" Pakistani nuclear facilities.
Foreign Office spokesman had on Friday categorically denied Pakistan's receiving of such a request saying there was no question of Pakistan allowing IAEA inspection of its nuclear installations.
The sources said Ms Flemming had already been approached by the Pakistan Mission in Vienna and she had conceded that indeed no request had been made by the IAEA to send inspectors to Pakistan.
It was pointed out to the IAEA spokesperson that Pakistan was not under verification, but some other countries were, and it was in that context that Pakistan was cooperating with the Agency.
The IAEA spokesperson was also told that authorities in Islamabad found it odd that she chose to single out Pakistan in her press comments at a time when the IAEA was holding consultations with several countries.
When the IAEA spokesperson was asked by the Pakistan Mission to issue a clarification, she said that she would send an email to the reporter to correct the comments attributed to her.
Meanwhile, officials here maintain that there is no question of any IAEA inspectors coming to Pakistan as Pakistan is not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
It is Pakistan's involvement in the IAEA inquiry being conducted on Iran's nuclear programme that has brought Pakistan'snuclear programme into the IAEA fray.
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