Brussels, 23/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - EU foreign affairs ministers held a Council meeting on Monday for a brief exchange of views on EU/Iran negotiations on the Iranian nuclear programme. President of the Council, Jean Asselborn explained to the press as the end of the Council that, “The Twenty-five confirmed their support for negotiations between Germany, France, the United Kingdom, High Representative Solana and Iran. But they also very clearly reiterated the fact that the Iranians must respect the commitments taken last November during the Paris Agreement. No break in implementation of the commitments can be allowed. The development of future relations between the EU and Iran depends on this. This must be quite clear”. Diplomats confirmed on Monday that a meeting of political directors from the three European countries (E-3), with senior Iranian officials will take place on Tuesday in Brussels, followed by a ministerial meeting in Geneva on Wednesday.
The Council also discussed presidential elections in Iran on 17 June, as well as the announcement for the “Council of Guardians” on the election candidates. Mr Asselborn informed the press that, “on this point, the Council has expressed its disappointment with the limited number of candidates and, notably, the decision of the Iranian Council of Guardians to reject a large number of reform candidates”. In these circumstances, it is difficult to speak about real democratic choices of the people, he pointed out.