Brussels, 08/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 5 December, High Representative Federica Mogherini appointed her predecessor Catherine Ashton as “special adviser” to facilitate the nuclear negotiations with Iran, following the extension of the talks on 24 November (see EUROPE 11204). Ashton will thus continue to lead the negotiations to find an agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme.
To ensure the continuity of the talks, “which require full-time dedication, Catherine Ashton will facilitate discussions and will report regularly” to Mogherini, said the European External Action Service in a press release. EEAS Political Director Helga Schmid and her team will continue to support Catherine Ashton in these endeavours.
Mogherini will attend the meetings on those occasions when the E3+3 (France, Germany, United Kingdom, China, Russia and United States) ministers meet the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Negotiations have been extended until 30 June 2015. On 24 November, Ashton and Zarif announced that the next meeting would take place in December. No date for this meeting has as yet been announced. (CG)