EU, Iran Start Nuclear Meeting

EU and Iranian diplomats began meeting today in Turkey to search for ways to resume formal negotiations to resolve the crisis surrounding Tehran’s nuclear program, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, April 24).

“This time we will be able to move on in preparatory talks that may lead the sooner the better to meaningful negotiations,” said EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana after arriving in Ankara (Michael Adler, Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, April 25).

Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani told reporters before the meeting that he expected to hear new proposals from Solana, considering that Iran has steadfastly refused to accede to calls to freeze its uranium enrichment program.

That demand is “irrational,” Larijani said.  “That's why there are other new ideas.  We are supposed to be introduced (to them). That's why we are here” (Mark Heinrich, Reuters, April 25).

However, Solana spokeswoman Cristina Gallach denied that the EU official would make any new offers.

There were “no changes in the position of the international community,” she said (Adler, Agence France-Presse).

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