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European Leaders Cautiously Optimistic On Iran Talks

June 7, 2006 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, today expressed cautious optimism about the prospects for talks to defuse the crisis over Iran's nuclear program.

Solana met with Merkel in Berlin after delivering a package of incentives to leaders in Iran on June 6 aimed at convincing Iran to suspend its program to enrich uranium, a process that Iran could potentially develop to the stage where it could produce nuclear weapons.

Merkel said the package represents "a really important chance" to resolve the dispute by diplomacy.

Solana said he hoped for a swift signal from Tehran and would willingly hold a further round of talks with Iranian officials.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today the package envisages Iran suspending uranium enrichment, and the UN Security Council refraining from debating Iran's nuclear program while talks on the offer are under way.

Few other details of the offer have been revealed so far.

Lavrov said he expects Iran to give its response by the end of June.

(compiled from agency reports)

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org