Brussels, 30/08/2012 (Agence Europe) - The discussion between Catherine Ashton and chief Iranian negotiator Said Jalili on the Iranian nuclear programme, which was planned for the end of August, will be late, Michael Mann, spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, said on Thursday 30 August. “Catherine Ashton will make new contact soon, I can't say when. As tomorrow is 31 August it probably won't be at the end of this month”, Mann said. “There is no particular reason for this slight delay - it's just a question of the diary. They will talk to each other soon, in the coming days”, he added, saying that it is possible that their discussion will take place by telephone conference. “It could be a telephone discussion and not face to face”, he went on.
“The date of the discussion is not fixed but it will take place and we will decide the follow-up on the basis of this discussion. Nothing has been decided in advance”, Mann said. Reminding his listeners that no deadline has been fixed, the spokesperson said that because of concerns of the international community on the Iranian nuclear programme “we are not going to continue discussing like this indefinitely. The discussions need to come to an end (…) and we need to move on.”
EU acknowledges development in the Iranian position. Mann acknowledged development in the Iranian position. He said that the E3+3 proposals (Germany, France, UK, USA, China and Russia) have been formulated. “We hope that the Iranians will react and propose measures to strengthen trust and thus convince the international community that uranium is only used for peaceful and civil ends”, he added. (CG/transl.f)