EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said Thursday that a
meeting with Iran's top nuclear negotiator over Tehran's nuclear
program had been set for Saturday, according to reports from the
Danish capital Copenhagen.
"I have said it (the meeting) will be in two days," Solana told
reporters during a visit to Denmark.
He didn't say where the talks were to take place. "I prefer not
to name the place because there are difficult negotiations
underway," Solana said.
The meeting between Solana and Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali
Larijani had been scheduled for Wednesday but Iran on Wednesday
abruptly announced that the meeting was postponed.
The European Union is hoping to give diplomacy one last chance
to persuade Tehran to halt uranium enrichment in return for a
package of incentives.
Iran, which has insisted on its right to a peaceful nuclear
energy development program, defied an Aug. 31 deadline set by the
UN Security Council to freeze its uranium enrichment.
Also on Thursday, Senior negotiators of Britain, China, France,
Germany, Russia and the United States met in Berlin in an attempt
to figure out how to handle Tehran, with the United States pushing
for UN sanctions.
Larijani was in Spain on Thursday for talks with Prime Minister
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
This was the first meeting of the diplomats from Britain,
France, Russia, China, the United States and Germany since Iran
defied the Aug. 31 deadline set by the UN Security Council
resolution to freeze its uranium enrichment.
US officials are pushing for sanctions against Iran, with German
chancellor Angela Merkel warning of possible actions against
Tehran, but ruling out the use of military force.
Russia and China insist on diplomatic means to settle the
issue.
The six nations have offered Iran an incentive package in
exchange for Tehran's promise to suspend its controversial nuclear
program.
(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2006)
