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5+1 Group backs continuation of N-talks with Iran

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, Oct 7, IRNA
Iran-5+1 Group-Nuclear
Representatives of the six powers composing the 5+1 Group here Friday stressed the importance of solving the Iran nuclear issue through negotiation.

The representatives of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- Britain, France, China, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany (5+1 Group) and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana met in London on Friday to discuss Iran's nuclear case.

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, who hosted the meeting, pointed to the history of talks with Iran, saying proposals made to Tehran on June 1 by the group were still on the table.

As previously announced by the foreign secretary, Friday's meeting of the group made no decisive decision on Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

Participants at the meeting expressed wide differences and contradictory points of views from continuing the negotiations to imposing sanctions while Iran continues to insist on its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.

Russia and China explicitly stressed the importance of continuing the negotiations as the only effective way of resolving the standoff over Iran's nuclear program while the US and Britain called for imposition of sanctions based on Article 41 of Chapter 7 of the UN Charter.

France and Germany laid emphasis on continuation of talks at this point of time.

The Islamic Republic of Iran regards enrichment of uranium for energy generation and non-military research as an inalienable right of Iranians within the framework of rules and regulations of the UN's nuclear watchdog (IAEA). Iran is a signatory to the treaty banning proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT).

The Friday meeting was the third session held between representatives of the 5+1 Group in London. Foreign ministers of Russia and China did not take part.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice attended the session but arrived late. US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns filled Rice's place in the meeting until her arrival.

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