Geneva - The world's five main atomic powers issued a joint statement Friday - the first in five years - warning Iran's nuclear programme is a proliferation risk of "ongoing serious concern."

British Ambassador John Duncan, speaking on behalf of the five, said: "The proliferation of nuclear weapons constitutes a threat to international peace and security".

The Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) remained "a key instrument for collective security", he said.

"We call for Iran to respond to the concerns of the international community through prompt and full implementation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the requirements of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency).

The five also restated their support for the Six-Party Talks process aimed at securing the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and the 1995 resolution to maintain a Middle East nuclear weapons-free zone.

China, France, the Russian Federation, Britain and the US said they wished to "reaffirm their strong and continuing support" for the treaty.

They issued the statement at the conclusion of talks in Geneva paving the way for the 2010 NPT review conference that is to be held in New York.

Talks chairman Ukrainian Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko told a press conference the talks would provide "a good ground" for the final round of preparatory talks to be held in New York also next May. He admitted there had been "strong debates."

"One new element was the information related to Syria," he said referring to recent disclosures about alleged attempts by Syria to build a nuclear reactor aided by North Korea. Obviously the Iran issue has been an obstacle for several years now." (dpa)