Solana to Iran: EU willing to negotiate nuclear issue
Iran-UN, Politics, 11/13/2006

European Union High Representative Javier Solana said today that the EU was willing to continue negotiations with Iran on the nuclear issues if the conditions are met.

"We had negotiations that did not arrive to a conclusion and everybody knew that if the conclusions were not arrived there would be another track. The track of the United Nations," Solana told a news conference following a meeting of EU foreign ministers this evening.

He said at the moment it was the UNSC not Europeans which is debating a resolution vis-a-vis Iran.

"We are also willing to continue the negotiations. We know all sides want the conditions for what the negotiations can start," he added.

EU Foreign Ministers briefly discussed Iran's nuclear programme over lunch.

Iran reserves the right to take an appropriate response in case of any move to deprive of its rights, government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham said today.

Elham spoke when asked to comment on a resolution which could be adopted by the United Nations Security Council against Iran's peaceful nuclear program any time.

"If the UN Security Council passes a resolution that would deprive Iran of its rights, the country will have the right to respond appropriately," he said.

He said that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has duties and responsibilities which it should carry out as an international, independent and legal body.

"Iran stands by all its commitments. It has the inalienable right to access nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," he reminded.

Asked how Iran would react to a possible Security Council resolution imposing sanctions on the nation, the spokesman said: "Iran will make the decision and take the necessary steps to restore its rights while observing various aspects (of its international rights and obligations).

This also comes after Iranian Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani ended a three-day visit to Moscow on Sunday. Larijani held a 90-minute meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin behind closed doors Saturday night and conveyed a message from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Putin.

The SNSC secretary and Russian president discussed bilateral cooperation, regional developments and Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

Speaking to IRNA, Larijani said, "The Russian president stressed the importance of settling Iran's atomic issue through negotiations and continued consultation." Larijani held separate meetings with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Secretary of presidential security council Igor Ivano.

vIran's top nuclear negotiator told reporters in Moscow, "If the trend of settlement of Iran's nuclear program underwent a change from negotiations and the other party applied a different language, Iran will also change its position and make appropriate decisions." Asked about Iran's stance on possible Security Council's adoption of a resolution offered by European states, he said, "If they intended to use a language other than previous one, we would make a revision in our ties with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)." Deputy Chairman to the Russian State Duma Artur Chilingrov said on Sunday that Iran's nuclear activities for peaceful purposes are within the framework of international laws and completely legal.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the General Assembly of the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace (AAPP) in Tehran, he said that the ongoing event marks Iran's significance for the world peace and security. Chilingrov referred to the policy of threat for solving world problems as unacceptable and called for equal rights for all Asian countries.

Iran's Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani who wound up his three-day visit to Moscow said "Any UNSC resolution against Iran would be tantamount to change of course." Speaking to reporters at Mehrabad International Airport, he said issuance of resolution means that they do not seek to resolve the issue through dialogue.

Voicing Tehran's readiness to continue negotiations to resolve Iran's nuclear dossier through dialogue, he said if they issue any resolution it will mean that they themselves have changed their position.

"We are firm in our position," he said, adding "Such a resolution will mean end of talks but we still underline the fact that the case should be resolved through negotiations." The best response to UNSC resolution would be people's persistence in their legitimate rights to fully access peaceful nuclear technology, Larijani said.

Previous Stories:
  Iran urged to build more nuclear power plants   (11/7/2006)
  Iran's nuclear achievements immune from threats   (10/31/2006)
  Iran warns on nuclear issue abuse of its rights   (10/23/2006)
  Iran - EU officials meet on nuclear issue   (9/27/2006)
  EU softens on Iranian nuclear program   (9/14/2006)
  Solana, Larijani to meet on nuclear issue   (9/11/2006)

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