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Iran, EU finishing N-crossword, says Assefi

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, May 3, IRNA
Iran-Assefi-Nuclear
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid Reza Assefi said here Tuesday Iran and the European Union are filling in few remaining empty spaces in their nuclear crossword puzzle.

Addressing domestic and foreign reporters at his weekly press conference, Assefi pointing to latest developments in nuclear talks added, "We have entered a new phase. We believe most Europeans have been convinced that our nuclear activities are peaceful but just the Americans are making mischief."
Asked about recent remarks by Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Hassan Rowhani on uranium enrichment resumption, he said, "The enrichment consumption is not the question, but some enrichment-related activities, whose starting date will be announced later, are the issue.

"In the new round of talks, we voiced our concerns over dragging out negotiations and called for reaching a breakthrough."
Iran does not intend to violate the Paris pact, said the official adding, "But we are not the only side, which must comply with the pact and the Europeans must be committed to the agreement as well.

"We have already emphasized that the enrichment suspension is a voluntary and temporary initiative and will be resumed some day with or without the Europeans' agreement."
Assefi added, "The enrichment resumption will be discussed at the final stage of negotiations."
Shifting to Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi's presence in the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in New York, the spokesman said, "The conference is of great importance. Iran is seeking objective and practical progress in disarmament in the conference.

The Iranian delegation headed by foreign minister also aims to help expand peaceful nuclear cooperation between different countries and remove the obstacles the big powers put in the way of such cooperation, and show that Iran's nuclear facilities are not open to aggression.

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::IRNA No.028 03/05/2005 13:46 --End