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Asefi: Iran, EU3 talks to set framework for future nuclear activities

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Dec 12, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza 
Asefi said Iran and the three European countries are going to set the 
framework for future nuclear activities during a new round of talks 
scheduled to start between them in Brussels on Monday. 
He made the remarks during his weekly press briefing here Sunday 
during which he also said that the foreign ministers of Germany, 
France and Britain and Iran will decide on which programs and 
priorities will have priority in their talks in an attempt to reach 
common ground. 
He said that working groups composed of members from both sides 
will be formed by next week and practical steps taken to try to 
resolve remaining issues after tomorrow`s meeting. 
Asefi further explained that three teams formed in Iran, namely, 
the political team supervised by the Foreign Minister, one in charge 
of the technical aspect of the issue under the supervision of the 
Minister of Industries as well as the nuclear team headed by the head 
of Iran`s Atomic Energy Organization are currently working on the 
issue. 
On the possibility of Iran entering into negotiations with other 
European countries on the nuclear issue, he said the decision was 
made by the European Union and, hence, the EU itself should decide 
on the modalities. 
He disclosed that Iran plans to hold negotiations with other 
European and non-European countries including Italy, Japan, China, 
Malaysia and South Africa. 
On Iran`s refusal to participate in the US-initiated conference 
dubbed `Forum for the Future` which commenced in Rabat Saturday, he 
said that Tehran was of the opinion that any plan concerning the 
region which was imposed from the outside would not solve its 
problems. The conference was to be a follow-up of the US` Broader 
Middle East initiative. 
He pointed out that the US` purported scheme of expanding 
democracy in the Middle East is intended to serve its own interests. 
Commenting on the accusations that "one million people" from Iran 
have been dispatched to Iraq to influence the results of the upcoming 
elections, Asefi said those who make such remarks either do not know 
what "one million people" implies or are uttering words they hardly 
understand. 
He said it was absolutely impossible to send "one million people" 
across borders without anyone noticing them. 
"Iran backs free elections and the establishment of peace and 
security in Iraq," Asefi stressed, adding that the Iraqi nation has 
already proven its rejection of alien dominance and the presence of 
foreigners in its land with its stoic resistance. 
He also pointed out that Iran has conveyed its opposition to 
those accusations to Iraqi officials who should be the ones concerned.
On the reports of the sentencing of a number of Al-Qaeda fugitives
in Iran, the spokesman said that a few Iranian sympathizers of the 
group have been tried and sentenced in Iran. 
As for the foreign nationals alleged to have been supporting the 
group, he said that their cases are still under investigation and 
no trial date has been set. 
The public will certainly be informed if and when they are tried, 
he added. 
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