Monday, January 24, 2011

Failed negotiations in Istanbul on the Iranian nuclear program

The issue of Iran's nuclear program can not be resolved in one or two meetings, said said Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wu Hailong, according to a statement posted on the website of the Ministry, following the failure of negotiations between Tehran and Western powers. The two days of talks in Istanbul between the Group of Six - Germany, Britain, France, Russia, China, USA, and Iran ended in failure.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has raised the possibility of new nuclear talks with major powers could lead to "results" in the future, in a speech Sunday in Rasht in the aftermath of the collapse of talks in Istanbul. "We had hoped to begin discussions on concrete progress, and we have made every effort to make this possible.

I am disappointed to say that this was not possible," said the chief diplomat of the Union, Catherine Ashton. "It is essential that Iran demonstrates that its nuclear program is peaceful in nature," said the diplomat. The chief Iranian negotiator, Saeed Jalili, for his part, reaffirmed his country's right to pursue uranium enrichment, which in the West, could allow Iran to progress in the manufacture of atomic weapons.

"Any agreement and cooperation, as I pointed out during discussions with Ms. Ashton, must be based on the rights of nations, including Iran's right to nuclear technology." "The right to fuel cycle and enrichment of uranium is one of Iran's rights and must be respected by the Group of Six, "he said at a conference this release.

The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Michele Alliot-Marie said in Amman that the attitude of Iran, with "pre-conditions that were totally unacceptable," had "blocked everything." These conditions "related to the lifting of sanctions and the right to enrich [uranium]. This has blocked everything," said the minister.

The British Foreign Minister, William Hague, also deemed "extremely disappointing" the Iranian attitude. Ashton said that "no new discussion" was provided with Tehran over its nuclear program. The previous meeting, held in Geneva in early December after 14 month break talks had raised hopes of a dynamic, with the announcement of the appointment of Istanbul.

Further indication of the failure of these talks, no bilateral meeting was held during the two days between the U.S. delegation and that of Iran, according to a Western diplomat, despite the insistence of holding the Six such a meeting. Both Mrs Alliot-Marie that Mr. Hague felt however that it was still possible to find a diplomatic solution.

"The door remains open for future discussions," said the British minister. Iran's nuclear program has been condemned by six Security Council resolutions, including four with sanctions and economic policies. Several countries including the United States, have adopted their own sanctions.

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