CHINA / National
France tells Iran: Stop enrichment before talks
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-08-24 06:17
PARIS: World powers are ready to respond to Iran's call for talks over
its nuclear ambitions but only if it first suspends uranium enrichment.
Iran handed over its response to an incentives package offered by six
nations on Tuesday, saying it offered ideas that would allow serious
talks to start immediately. The West has in the past said such calls for
talks were a stalling tactic.
"As we have always said... a return to the negotiating table is tied to
the suspension of uranium enrichment," French Foreign Minister Philippe
Douste-Blazy told a news briefing.
There has been no sign Teheran agrees to this precondition, which it has
previously dismissed as unacceptable.
One EU diplomat earlier said Iran had ruled out halting enrichment before
talks in the 21-page reply "but indicated that it might be open to accept
suspension in the course of negotiations."
The Washington Post quoted unidentified officials from countries involved
saying Iran was willing to consider halting its atomic programme but not
as a precondition for negotiations.
"In the reply, although (the West) has taken destructive measures, Iran
has tried to create new opportunities for resolving the issue," senior
Iranian nuclear official Ali Hosseinitash told Iran's media.
Douste-Blazy described the reply as "a very long, complex document" and
said the six powers would decide in a few days what to do in the Security
Council.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said the reply
"requires a detailed and careful analysis."
'DIPLOMACY BEST WAY TO RESOLVE STANDOFF'
China believes that peaceful resolution through diplomacy is the best way
to address the Iranian nuclear issue, the Foreign Ministry said in a
statement yesterday.
Beijing is carefully studying Iran's response to the offer made by six
world powers to defuse the nuclear standoff, according to the ministry.
The offer includes both incentives for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment
and possible sanctions if it fails to comply.
The Chinese Government hopes Iran seriously considers the concern of the
international community and come up with necessary and constructive
measures, it said.
"We also hope that other parties concerned maintain calm and patience,
show flexibility, stick to the orientation of peaceful resolution and
create favourable conditions for resuming talks as soon as possible," it
said.
(China Daily 08/24/2006 page1)
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