Brussels, 23/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - Although, according to the news agency Isna, Iran has proposed that the next round of negotiations on its nuclear programme with the E3+3 Group (Germany, France, United Kingdom, China, United States, Russia) take place in Cairo (without naming a date), the EU has not confirmed this information. “Several venues have been proposed. We do not exclude any, but Iran is proposing different venues all the time. The venue is not the issue, but Iran appears to be trying to delay the process by coming up with new conditions”, a European source told EUROPE.
In reply to a question from EUROPE, a spokesperson to High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said that consultations between the two parties to schedule a new round of talks are “ongoing”. Recalling that firm dates and a venue were proposed in December (see EUROPE 10758), he stated that “ever since then, we have been very surprised to see Iran come back to us again and again with new pre-conditions on the modalities of the talks, for example by changing the venue and delaying their responses”. “We have always been very flexible and have been in regular contact with them as part of an ongoing process”, the spokesperson added. He stated that “the E3+3 are still hoping to reach agreement with Iran on the modalities of the talks, including venue, with a view to resuming talks shortly”, and that the E3+3 hopes to see Iran return to the negotiating table “as soon as possible”.
Isna reported on 23 January that the Iranian minister for foreign affairs, Ali Akbar Salehi, suggested that the negotiations be resumed in Cairo. “When I was in Egypt (…) it was suggested that the next meeting will take place in Cairo”, he apparently said, adding that “this issue was welcomed by our dear friends in Egypt, and Egypt will consult the 5+1 (E3+3) in order to host this meeting”. (CG/transl.fl)