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Asefi hopes for fruitful Iran-EU talks

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, July 2, IRNA
Iran-Asefi-Nuclear
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi here Sunday expressed hope Iran's constructive talks with Europe would not be diverted from its natural course and that they would bear fruits.

No deadline has been set for Iran to give its response to a package of incentives offered by the six world powers (Group 5+1), Asefi told domestic and foreign reporters.

"Different committees are carrying out their task with precision and seriousness in reviewing the Europe's proposals. The Islamic Republic of Iran will announce its response after summing-up," Asefi said.

The European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, on June 6, visited Iran to hand over a package of incentives approved by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Russia, China, Britain, France and the United States -- plus Germany (Group 5+1) to convince it to suspend its uranium enrichment activities and resume talks to settle the dispute over its nuclear program.

"Iran will give its response next month," the spokesman added.

In response to a question Western states do not know with whom they should negotiate in Iran on nuclear case, he said "Westerners know with whom they should negotiate. They are well-aware of the structures of our country.

"We are an integrated establishment and macro policies of the Islamic Republic Iran are adopted, announced and implemented on the basis of consensus."

Referring to the recent remarks by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei that Iran will not negotiate on its own legitimate rights within the framework of NPT, he said, "What the Supreme Leader has said are Iran's lasting policies. No country would negotiate on its rights."

In response to a question when Iran will announce its response, Asefi said, "Europe should be grateful to Iran for the precise response it is going to give to its proposed package. The Europeans also know that precision should not be sacrificed for speed." Asked about Iran's response to Europe's proposed package, he said, "Iran's response will take into consideration national interests and the rights of the country. We will, however, strive to remove concerns of the West.

"It is not a question of tactics and wasting time. Europe should be happy and content that Iran will give its response next month." Expressing optimism over nuclear talks, he said if the European sides do not act irrationally and Iran's rights are restored, the negotiations will be fruitful."

The spokesman also assessed as an "auspicious measure" establishment of the Strategic Council on Foreign Affairs (SCFA), saying, "It will help Iran's foreign policy."

The Supreme Leader, in a decree on June 25, ordered establishment of the SCFA and appointed former foreign minister Kamal Kharrazi as its head.

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