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Iran, European trio to discuss proposal on Thursday: Diplomat

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Vienna, Oct 20, IRNA -- The European proposal on Iran`s nuclear 
activities will be discussed during Thursday afternoon meeting 
between Iran and the European trio in Vienna, it was announced here 
on Wednesday. 
The announcement was made by a European diplomat who will be a 
participant of the Thursday meeting. 
Talking to IRNA, he said that guarantee for transfer of nuclear 
technology to Iran in case of Iran`s cooperation will be top on the 
agenda of talks on Thursday. 
The diplomat who was talking on condition of anonymity, added that
expansion of Iran-EU cooperation in all areas particularly in fields 
of trade and economy will be among other topics to be discussed by 
Iran and the European trio (Britain, Germany, France). 
It is said that Amir Hossein Zamaninia, Foreign Ministry 
director general for international affairs, will head the Iranian 
delegation to the Thursday meeting. 
The diplomat did not elaborate on the European proposal to Iran 
but some experts in Vienna said that the three European states will 
support Iran`s access to light water reactor. 
"We would support Iran`s acquisition a light water research 
reactor," said the seven-page document presented by Britain, France 
and Germany to the G8 group of industrialized nations last week in 
Washington ahead of a meeting of the so-called Euro-3 with Iran on 
Thursday in Vienna. 
Meanwhile Iran`s Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) chief 
Gholamreza Aqazadeh said here on Wednesday "any proposal must 
recognize our legitimate rights. 
"Civil nuclear technology is one of the legitimate rights of 
any country, we do not accept any proposition which does not respect 
our rights," he told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Tehran. 
"We are in favor of having discussions with the Europeans. We 
have made our own proposals and await their response," Aqazadeh 
said. 
In related developments, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid Reza 
Asefi here Sunday said that Tehran has not received any (new) proposal
from European states regarding the nuclear issue. 
Speaking to reporters at his weekly press briefing, he said the 
only proposal acceptable to Iran is one that would serve its national 
interest. 
Any proposal should also recognize Iran`s legitimate right to 
the peaceful use of nuclear technology, he added. 
"Since we have not received any proposal, we cannot comment about 
it. Until we receive the proposal, we cannot say whether we will 
accept or reject it," Asefi noted. 
"We will not abandon our legal right to make use of nuclear 
technology for peaceful purposes," he reiterated, but said "a mutual 
understanding or agreement can be reached through dialogue." 
As to cooperation with Europe on the issue, Asefi said the Islamic
Republic has so far had fruitful talks with the European trio and that
the talks will continue in the future. 
If Europe desires to come to an understanding, the only way would 
be for it to respect Iran`s views and do its part in building mutual 
confidence, the Foreign Ministry spokesman stressed. 
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