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Nuclear talks with European states to resume, Mottaki says

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Nov 23, IRNA
Iran-EU-Nuclear Program
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Wednesday that Iranian nuclear talks with three European countries are likely to be held following the meeting of Board of Governors of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on November 24.

Speaking at a joint press conference with visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, he said that the three European states have offered to resume talks on December 6.

"Of course, we did not receive a formal proposal to that effect yet, but, I had a telephone conversation with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw last night. We talked about resumption of nuclear talks, but, the exact venue or date have not been fixed yet. I think the venue will be Vienna."
Asked about his view about upcoming (tomorrow) meeting of IAEA governing board, he said, "I think the outcome of the meeting will be constructive in light of Iran's full cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog and the IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei's latest satisfactory report about Iranian nuclear program."
He said that ElBaradei's report indicated that Iran respects Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and Safeguards Agreement of the IAEA so that the member states are obliged to take realistic approach toward Iranian nuclear case.

A reporter asked about suspension of Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF) in Isfahan and whether Russia has offered to enrich uranium for the power plant outside Iran, he said that it is impossible to halt operation of UCF, because, it is in line with Safeguards Agreement of the IAEA and that Iran did not receive any offer to that effect from Russia.

"Iran is entitled to possess full nuclear technology as laid down in the NPT."
Responding to a question about failure of Russia to complete Bushehr power plant according to timetable set so far, he said that during his recent visit to Moscow, senior Russian officials pledged to honor their undertakings to complete the power plant and supply fuel as per bilateral accords.

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