Germany proposes nuclear enrichment under UN body

BERLIN, May 1 (Reuters) German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier today suggested building a uranium enrichment facility under UN auspices in a neutral country as a way to defuse nuclear disputes with Iran and North Korea.

In an article for the Handelsblatt business daily, Steinmeier wrote the German government made the proposal to the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

''It's not about dissuading Iran and North Korea from building nuclear weapons,'' Steinmeier said. ''The issue is the civil use of nuclear energy. How can we ensure that states won't use the enrichment of uranium to secretly make nuclear weapons?'' Steinmeier said a uranium enrichment facility could be built in a ''location acceptable by all sides'' and that the host nation would cede over clearly defined sovereign rights.

''This area would be virtually exterritorial, similar to the seat of the United Nations in New York,'' added Steinmeier. Germany currently holds the presidencies of the European Union and the Group of Eight industrialised nations.

''The IAEA would thus take on the task of deciding whether to pass along enriched materials based on the criteria that excludes any abuse. There is no other authority that is more qualified or has more authority to make such decisions.'' Steinmeier's suggestion comes ahead of a London meeting tomorrow of senior officials of six world powers to review Iran's nuclear plans.

Political directors in the foreign ministries of the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany would have a meeting along with EU officials, Britain said yesterday.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana urged the United States to speak directly to Iran to ease the international standoff over its nuclear programme.

Iran says it is developing nuclear technology for power generation, but the West suspects it may be trying to build a bomb.

UN sanctions have already been imposed on Tehran over its refusal to stop enriching uranium for nuclear fuel.

Steinmeier last year suggested shared uranium enrichment facilities set up in third-party states as an alternative to individual countries acquiring their own technology.

REUTERS SY KN2335