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FM: No deadline for Iran to respond to EU incentives package

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Baku, June 21, IRNA
Iran-OIC-Mottaki
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki here Tuesday said that Iran was under no deadline to respond to the the 5+1 Group's incentives package.

Saying Iran was still reviewing the package, Mottaki said that Tehran would "inform the Europeans" whenever it finished examining the proposals.

His remarks came during a press conference held on the sidelines of the 33rd meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in the Azeri capital Baku.

The three-day meeting opened on Monday and will conclude later today.

Describing the 5+1 Group's proposals to Iran as "positive," the foreign minister said it was "one step forward" compared with their proposal last year which Iran was only either to accept or reject.

However, this time around they (US, Russia, Britain, France, China and Germany) have told Tehran to study the proposals carefully and then inform the group of its decision, Mottaki said.

The foreign minister lauded OIC member states and Muslim countries for their support for Tehran's indisputable right to access nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

Asked to comment on Monday's statements of US President George W Bush threatening Iran of UN Security Council action or further sanctions in case it rejected the new proposals, Mottaki said the US president should remember that "the era of threats is over." "The language of threats is no longer acceptable in today's world," Mottaki stressed, and expressed hope the current nuclear standoff with the West will come to an end with opposing sides reaching an acceptable solution through goodwill and recognition of Iran's absolute right to pursue nuclear energy for peaceful ends.

Asked about recent attempts to sow discord among different Iranian ethnic groups and create tension inside the country, Mottaki said that the Iran is a cornucopia of various ethnic groups which have shown their ability to co-exist for over a thousand years.

"National unity and solidarity is an Iranian treasure preserved throughout its long history," Mottaki stressed.

1394/2321/1414