Brussels, 22/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Union is still willing to sit at the negotiating table with Iran as long as there are no preconditions set, announced Maja Kocijancic, the spokeswoman for High Representative Catherine Ashton, on Thursday 22 September.
“If Iran is prepared to engage more seriously in concrete discussions aimed at resolving international concerns about its nuclear programme, we would be willing to agree on a next meeting with the Iranian side at an early and mutually convenient date and venue”, said Catherine Ashton, on Wednesday 21 September, in a statement on behalf of the E3/EU+3 group (Germany, France, United Kingdom and China, United States, Russia).
The EU's foreign policy chief underlined the concerns of these countries on the subject of recent developments in the Iranian nuclear programme, revealed in the last report by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which highlights the possible use of uranium for military purposes.
“We remain determined and united in our efforts to work towards a comprehensive, negotiated, long-term solution”, Ashton stressed, regretting that Iran had not responded to the proposals made by the six countries, who are conducting a two-fold approach combining a proposal for dialogue with a sanctions policy. (CG/transl.jl)