Strasbourg, 23/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - Iran has introduced a five-point counterproposal to the proposals made by the E3+3 group (Germany, UK, France, China, Russia, US) on the non-proliferation treaty, the step-by-step principle and reciprocity, agreed to last April in Istanbul during the discussions on its nuclear programme. An anonymous member of the delegation made this declaration on Wednesday 23 May in Baghdad (Iraq). He added: “We are waiting for the reply from the other side at the second negotiating sessions this (Wednesday) evening.”
A few hours earlier, the spokesman for the EU high representative announced that the E3+3 had put forward some “interesting proposals” to Tehran. Although no details about these proposals were provided, the source indicated that they hoped that they would obtain a “positive reaction”. Michael Mann ruled out a final agreement being obtained on Wednesday, and explained that they would be able to make progress that day during the second stage of the negotiations. He added that they hoped to move forward but that things could not be resolved overnight. He also said that they would perhaps be able to decide on a date for the next stage of discussions. An Iranian official explained that negotiations would continue this Thursday and pointed out that in the meantime, bilateral meetings with the high representative and Chinese representative would take place. (CG/transl.fl)