Solana says talks with Larijani "constructive"

6/24/07

Lisbon, June 24, IRNA - EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said here Saturday night that his meeting with Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani was "very constructive".

Solana made the statement after his four-hour meeting with Iran's secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

He said the Lisbon talks were held in line with agreements reached between the two sides in their second round of talks held in Madrid, Spain, on May 31.

In the previous meeting, the sides agreed to continue talks, he said and expressed hope that negotiations would help Iran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He termed "valuable" agreements reached between Larijani and the IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei during their meeting in Vienna on Friday to settle the remaining issues on Iran's nuclear activities within the next two months.

Solana added that his talks with Larijani would help the trend become more fruitful.

The EU foreign policy chief stated the sides have a resolve to continue the path of negotiations on Iran's nuclear case.

He said he has received nothing about Britain's draft resolution presented to the UN Security Council calling for imposing more sanctions against Iran.

Negotiations are the solution to the ongoing standoff over Iran's nuclear case, he said, adding the sides strive to continue talks.

Larijani and Solana held their third round of talks in the Portuguese capital Saturday night.

The first round of talks was held in Ankara, Turkey, on April 25-26 and the second in Madrid, Spain on May 31.

Portugal will take over the European Union presidency from Germany on July 1.

Larijani assessed his talks with Solana "good"

"We reached a primary agreement in political terms during our meeting held in Madrid three weeks ago to accomplish an outcome on ways to settle issues with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said.

He assessed his talks with Solana "good" and added, "After the Madrid meeting, our deputies held an expert level session in Vienna. Then I met with the IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei in Vienna on Friday."

Larijani said he and ElBaradei agreed to settle the remaining issues with the IAEA over the country's peaceful nuclear case within the next two months.

"We will continue our cooperation with the IAEA to achieve a comprehensive solution," he stated.

He added, "Talks with Solana will help cooperation in this path and prepare the ground for an understanding. We will hold a session in three weeks to discuss the outcomes of the trend."

He reiterated that joint efforts between the two sides would prepare a good ground for further talks and settle dispute over Iran's peaceful nuclear activities.

Europe seeks to proceed with talks with Iran: Hosseini

Tehran, June 24, IRNA - Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said here Sunday most European states seek revival of logical talks with Iran.

Asked about outcome of talks held between Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani with the UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei and the EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, he told reporters, "Agreement between Larijani and ElBaradei is of impact on results of Larijani-Solana negotiations."

Iran's Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Larijani held talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General ElBaradei in Vienna on Friday and with Solana afterwards in Lisbon, Portugal, Saturday night.

The spokesman said Larijani and ElBaradei discussed ways to settle Iran's remaining issues with the IAEA.

"The two parties decided if talks with Solana were positive, Tehran will continue its cooperation with the agency and reach an agreement with the IAEA on ways to settle remaining issues," he added.

"Not a sudden breakthrough should be expected from the talks." In response to a question on a new draft resolution presented to the UN Security Council by Britain demanding more sanctions against Iran, Hosseini said, "Adoption of resolutions by certain Western states will not help the sides make a breakthrough."

He added, "A realistic view and acceptance of ongoing realities can lead to a common understanding between the sides."

"In obedience to the US, Britain has always drafted resolutions to impose restrictions on Iran. It has also accompanied Washington in its efforts to impose pressure on Iran beyond the UN Security Council's resolutions," he stated.

He said Larijani and Solana have described their two rounds of talks as "constructive" and have the same view on their third round of talks.

"Talks can be basically positive and the two parties can stress the need for continued exchange of views while they emphasize that no miracle should be expected from talks."

In response to a question whether ElBaradei's offer on acceptance of Iran's nuclear realities has been raised in the latest round of talks, he said, "What has been raised by ElBaradei was a comprehension of current realities of Iran's peaceful nuclear activities." Hosseini said, "Iran told the other party it is ready to hold talks and remove their possible concerns.

"Tehran has chosen the trend of understanding and will continue with it because it intends to prevent trend of confrontation and adoption of resolutions."

"We strive to make use of capacity of talks to reach understanding."