Posted on 07/10/2006 8:30:48 PM PDT by blam
EU set to host Iran nuclear talks
By Emma Jane Kirby
BBC News, Brussels
Ali Larijani has ruled out a swift Iranian response
Iran's top nuclear negotiator and the EU's foreign policy chief are meeting to try to diffuse a row over Tehran's contested nuclear plans. The EU presented Iran with a package of incentives designed to make it suspend controversial uranium enrichment.
So far Iran has failed to give a response to the offer.
Iran says it needs nuclear power for electricity but some countries fear it could be covertly trying to develop nuclear weapons.
The talks in Brussels on Tuesday should give the first real indication about whether or not Iran intends to accept the EU's offer of economic and political incentives in exchange for a pledge to suspend its uranium enrichment activities.
The European Union's package is backed by Russia, China and the United States.
The US wants Tehran to respond fully to the package before the start of the G8 summit in Russia on Saturday but the Iranian government has insisted it won't give an answer before August.
'Substantial response'
Last week Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani had a working dinner with the EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana which was described as a "good start" to the negotiations.
But with Iranian officials already insisting they won't give a definitive answer in Brussels, there's little hope of a breakthrough to the nuclear standoff.
Iran denies claims it is trying to make atomic bombs and insists it has a right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes.
Meanwhile the EU says it expects a "substantial response" to come out of the talks and warns that a rejection of the offer would relaunch a debate at the UN Security Council over what further measures to take against Iran.
Welcome to the EU negotiation circle jerk. A festival of sloth.
I wonder if "phbbbbbbt" is considered a substantial response?
He must know us better than we know our selves.
Do we know him?
IMAM ALI: Do not expect honesty and purity of intention from someone who has suffered from your malice; do not expect loyalty from one to whom you have been disloyal; do not expect goodwill from someone whom you regard with ill-will: his heart towards you is the same as your heart towards him.
Good question. I wonder where he went to school.
Talk is good. I suspect the EU may be able to talk bad guys to death. First they become bored by the EU's blather. Then catatonic. Then, plop, dead, from total lack of stimulus. Go EU! Talk. Talk. Talk. Snore ...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.