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Iran and Six to lend dialogue on Iranian nuke programme stable development

The sides reached mutual understanding on holding the next negotiation round in Baghdad on May 23, 2012
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, April 15 (Itar-Tass) — Iran and the Six are ready to lend the dialogue on the Iranian nuclear programme stable and gradual development, said the Russian Foreign Ministry on Sunday.

“Istanbul was the venue for a meeting between the EU high representative on foreign affairs and security policy Catherine Ashton and secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili with the participation of political directors of the Six of the international mediators on the Iranian nuclear programme (Britain, Germany, China, Russia, the US and France),” the ministry noted.

“The Russian side was represented at the meeting by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.”

“The central issue of the meeting was possible modalities of an all-embracing politico-diplomatic settlement of the situation around the Iranian nuclear programme and full restoration of confidence of the international community in its totally peaceful nature,” the ministry emphasized.

“The sides confirmed readiness to lend the renewed dialogue stable and gradual development, based on provisions of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and agreed principles of gradual development and mutuality.” The sides “reached mutual understanding on holding the next negotiation round in Baghdad on May 23, 2012,” the ministry continued.

“The meeting was held in a constructive and respectful atmosphere and showed readiness of the sides to search for mutually acceptable negotiated solutions.”

The Russian ministry added that “Sergei Ryabkov held consultations with secretary Saeed Jalili and his undersecretary Ali Baqeri on April 13-14”. The sides “held several coordination meetings with Catherine Ashton and partners in the Six in the multilateral format,” the ministry specified.

“Sergei Ryabkov held individual bilateral meetings with US undersecretary of state Wendy Sherman and Chinese assistant foreign minister Ma Zaoxu.”