Annan, Iranian officials stress need for talks on nuclear case: Asefi
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, Sept 3, IRNA
Iran-Asefi-Annan
The visiting United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Iranian officials stressed the need to adopt a strategy of negotiation in dealing with Iran's nuclear issue, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi said on Sunday.
His remarks was in reference to the ongoing visit to Tehran of the UN chief and his separate meetings with senior Iranian officials including Chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani and Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.
Annan is also scheduled to meet with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday.
Addressing domestic and foreign reporters at his weekly press briefing, Asefi said the UN secretary-general and his Iranian hosts shared common views on most cases in their meetings despite some differences of opinion "which are normal while two sides are engaged in a discussion," the spokesman added.
"Finding a solution to Iran's nuclear issue through negotiations," was one of the common points shares by the two sides, Asefi said.
He added that suspension of Iran's uranium enrichment activities was also discussed by the UN chief "but was not taken into consideration by the Iranian side."
Annan also urged the Iranian officials "to take seriously" their upcoming talks with the European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, said the spokesman.
Solana is expected to meet with Larijani, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, soon.
Asefi said that the exact time and venue of Solana-Larijani talks were not fixed yet "but it will be determined soon," he added.
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