Several steps forward will be taken in Iran-5+1 talks in Baghdad: Salehi
Political Desk
http://tehrantimes.com/politics/97369-several-steps-forward-will-be-taken-in-iran-51-talks-in-baghdad-salehi
On Line: 29 April 2012 16:36
In Print: Monday 30 April 2012
TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has said that
several steps forward will be taken during the next round of talks
between Tehran and world powers in Baghdad.
Salehi made the remarks during a joint press conference with Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in Tehran on Sunday, which was held
after a meeting between the two officials.
Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security
Council and Germany) held a new round of talks in Istanbul on April
14, breaking a 15-month hiatus in talks, and agreed to meet again in
Baghdad on May 23.
Salehi described the Istanbul meeting as positive, adding, `We hope
that the Baghdad meeting will be successful. We took one step forward
in the Istanbul meeting. God willing, we will take several steps
forward in Baghdad.'
The Istanbul talks marked the beginning of the end of the dispute over
Iran's nuclear issue, he stated.
`We hope that we will see the closure of this artificial case,' the
Iranian foreign minister stated.
Asked to give details of the talks, Salehi said, `Let's discuss the
details of the issue after the Baghdad meeting. Many analyses and
views are being made (and expressed) in this regard. However, it is
too soon to comment on the analyses and views.'
Iran-Russia ties developing
Salehi also replied to the question whether the message that Russian
Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan conveyed to him on Saturday was about the
Russian proposal for a `step-by-step' plan toward Iran's nuclear
program and whether the initiative will be the basis of the Baghdad
talks.
`The message, which was conveyed to me by the Russian ambassador, was
about bilateral ties,' the Iranian foreign minister explained.
On July 13, 2011, Russia made a proposal for a step-by-step approach,
according to which Iran could address questions about its nuclear
program and be rewarded with a gradual easing of sanctions.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on April 25 that
Western nations had shown interest in the Russian proposal.
Salehi went on to say that the relations between Tehran and Moscow are
`developing' and that `Iran and Russia have common views on many
international and regional issues, and this is the reason for constant
consultation between Iranian and Russian foreign ministry officials.'
Iran-IAEA talks intended to establish a framework for cooperation
In reply to question about the next round of talks between Iran and
the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is scheduled to be held
in Vienna from May 14 to 15, Salehi said, `Issues that will be
discussed in the meeting are in line with the issues that were
discussed in Tehran. A framework would be established within which
measures that should be taken by both sides would be stated and acted
upon.'
IAEA officials met with Iranian officials in Tehran from January 29 to
31 and February 21 to 22.
Iran keen to expand ties with Armenia
Commenting on the relations between Iran and Armenia, Salehi said that
the ties are good and Tehran is keen to increase its cooperation with
Yerevan.
He also spoke about the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, which has dragged on
since ethnic Armenian forces took control of the region during a war
in the early 1990s, and reiterated Iran's stance that the dispute
should be resolved peacefully.
Iran is ready to help the two countries settle the issue peacefully, he added.
Both Azerbaijan and Armenia claim the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh,
which is mainly populated by Armenians but located in Azerbaijan.
Armenia supports Iran's peaceful nuclear program
The Armenian foreign minister said that his country supports Iran's
peaceful nuclear program.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Nalbandian commented on the plan put forward
by Kofi Annan, who is the UN-Arab League joint special envoy on Syria,
and said that Armenia approves of the initiative.
`We approve of Kofi Annan's plan, support the international community,
and hope that a solution will be found to the current situation in
Syria,' he stated.
Annan has put forward a six-point peace plan for ending the one-year
crisis in Syria, which calls for a UN-supervised ceasefire by all
parties, the withdrawal of soldiers and heavy weapons from cities, and
the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Ahmadinejad meets with Nalbandian
In addition, Nalbandian held a meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad on Sunday.
During the meeting, Ahmadinejad said that efforts should be made to
enhance bilateral trade.
A number of projects are being implemented to help increase the level
of ties between the two countries, he added.
The Armenian foreign minister called for the expansion of relations
with the Islamic Republic, saying that Armenia is keen to use Iran's
experiences in various areas.
Nalbandian also met with Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani and the secretary
of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Saeed Jalili, on Sunday.
From: Baghdasarian
Political Desk
http://tehrantimes.com/politics/97369-several-steps-forward-will-be-taken-in-iran-51-talks-in-baghdad-salehi
On Line: 29 April 2012 16:36
In Print: Monday 30 April 2012
TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has said that
several steps forward will be taken during the next round of talks
between Tehran and world powers in Baghdad.
Salehi made the remarks during a joint press conference with Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian in Tehran on Sunday, which was held
after a meeting between the two officials.
Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security
Council and Germany) held a new round of talks in Istanbul on April
14, breaking a 15-month hiatus in talks, and agreed to meet again in
Baghdad on May 23.
Salehi described the Istanbul meeting as positive, adding, `We hope
that the Baghdad meeting will be successful. We took one step forward
in the Istanbul meeting. God willing, we will take several steps
forward in Baghdad.'
The Istanbul talks marked the beginning of the end of the dispute over
Iran's nuclear issue, he stated.
`We hope that we will see the closure of this artificial case,' the
Iranian foreign minister stated.
Asked to give details of the talks, Salehi said, `Let's discuss the
details of the issue after the Baghdad meeting. Many analyses and
views are being made (and expressed) in this regard. However, it is
too soon to comment on the analyses and views.'
Iran-Russia ties developing
Salehi also replied to the question whether the message that Russian
Ambassador Levan Dzhagaryan conveyed to him on Saturday was about the
Russian proposal for a `step-by-step' plan toward Iran's nuclear
program and whether the initiative will be the basis of the Baghdad
talks.
`The message, which was conveyed to me by the Russian ambassador, was
about bilateral ties,' the Iranian foreign minister explained.
On July 13, 2011, Russia made a proposal for a step-by-step approach,
according to which Iran could address questions about its nuclear
program and be rewarded with a gradual easing of sanctions.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on April 25 that
Western nations had shown interest in the Russian proposal.
Salehi went on to say that the relations between Tehran and Moscow are
`developing' and that `Iran and Russia have common views on many
international and regional issues, and this is the reason for constant
consultation between Iranian and Russian foreign ministry officials.'
Iran-IAEA talks intended to establish a framework for cooperation
In reply to question about the next round of talks between Iran and
the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is scheduled to be held
in Vienna from May 14 to 15, Salehi said, `Issues that will be
discussed in the meeting are in line with the issues that were
discussed in Tehran. A framework would be established within which
measures that should be taken by both sides would be stated and acted
upon.'
IAEA officials met with Iranian officials in Tehran from January 29 to
31 and February 21 to 22.
Iran keen to expand ties with Armenia
Commenting on the relations between Iran and Armenia, Salehi said that
the ties are good and Tehran is keen to increase its cooperation with
Yerevan.
He also spoke about the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, which has dragged on
since ethnic Armenian forces took control of the region during a war
in the early 1990s, and reiterated Iran's stance that the dispute
should be resolved peacefully.
Iran is ready to help the two countries settle the issue peacefully, he added.
Both Azerbaijan and Armenia claim the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh,
which is mainly populated by Armenians but located in Azerbaijan.
Armenia supports Iran's peaceful nuclear program
The Armenian foreign minister said that his country supports Iran's
peaceful nuclear program.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Nalbandian commented on the plan put forward
by Kofi Annan, who is the UN-Arab League joint special envoy on Syria,
and said that Armenia approves of the initiative.
`We approve of Kofi Annan's plan, support the international community,
and hope that a solution will be found to the current situation in
Syria,' he stated.
Annan has put forward a six-point peace plan for ending the one-year
crisis in Syria, which calls for a UN-supervised ceasefire by all
parties, the withdrawal of soldiers and heavy weapons from cities, and
the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Ahmadinejad meets with Nalbandian
In addition, Nalbandian held a meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad on Sunday.
During the meeting, Ahmadinejad said that efforts should be made to
enhance bilateral trade.
A number of projects are being implemented to help increase the level
of ties between the two countries, he added.
The Armenian foreign minister called for the expansion of relations
with the Islamic Republic, saying that Armenia is keen to use Iran's
experiences in various areas.
Nalbandian also met with Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani and the secretary
of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Saeed Jalili, on Sunday.
From: Baghdasarian