Brussels, 18/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 17 September, a spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton announced that the series of negotiations between the E3+3 (Germany, France, UK, China, USA and Russia) and Iran will start with a plenary session on Friday 19 September. On 17 September, Ashton held a bilateral meeting with Iran's Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif. “Further negotiating sessions during the days which follow will be held in different formats at the premises of the EU Delegation to the United Nations”, Ashton's spokesperson stated. The discussions are expected to take place mainly at political director level but, as the United Nations General Assembly will be taking place at the same time, several ministers will be in New York and may well also take part in the nuclear programme discussions.
The E3+3 will try to reach a definitive agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme as the provisional agreement runs until 24 November. On 1 September, Zarif said he was “optimistic” about the fact that the Iranian nuclear programme talks could be concluded within the time limit (see EUROPE 11146). “We are still optimistic but the road will still be long”, said Iranian negotiator Abbas Araqchi on 11 September. On 13 September, however, one of the main Iranian negotiators, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, stated that, after two rounds of negotiations with the European representatives, the positions were “not closer and disagreements on serious questions still [existed]”. On 17 September, Michael Mann, Ashton's spokesperson, spoke along similar lines. “Gaps on the core issues remain huge, but the clear objective is to work towards closing the gaps and to seek maximum progress”, he said. “The aim is to secure a comprehensive solution that will reassure the international community of the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme”, he stated.
These new negotiations - to be chaired by Ashton - will take place in New York, in the United Nations buildings. The last discussions were held in Vienna in July (see EUROPE 11126). (CG)