G8 wants peaceful solution to Iran's nuclear issue

Foreign ministers from the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations called on Iran Thursday to engage in "constructive and serious dialogue" and comply with its obligations to resolve the dispute over its nuclear programme, dpa reported. "Iran's persistent failure to comply with its obligations under (UN Security Council) resolutions and to meet the requirements of the IAEA Board of Governors resolutions is a cause of urgent concern," the ministers said in a statement issued at the close of their meeting. The G8 called on Tehran to "enter into a sustained process of constructive and serious dialogue without preconditions" and stressed its desire for a peaceful solution to the issue. Iran and the five UN Security Council permanent members plus Germany are to gather on Saturday for talks in Istanbul aimed at resolving the longstanding dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme. The West fears it is aimed at acquiring a nuclear weapon, while Iran maintains it is for peaceful energy purposes. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the talks would "proceed in a very expeditious and diligent manner." "The diplomatic window for negotiations is open but will not remain open forever," she said. "And therefore time is a matter to be taken into account." German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on the sidelines of the G8 meeting in Washington that the Istanbul talks were designed to "absolutely" prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and were not "propaganda talks." The ministers also discussed a satellite launch by North Korea that appears to be imminent. "Our six-party members and all the members of the G8 are in agreement that we will have to be prepared to take additional steps if the North Koreans go ahead," Clinton said pointing to UN Security Council resolutions that bind North Korea not to conduct any ballistic missile launches. Further UN action would be pursued if the launch goes through, she said. "So Pyongyang has a clear choice," she said. "It can pursue peace and reap the benefits of closer ties with the international community, including the United States, or it can continue to face pressure and isolation." The meeting of foreign ministers from the United States, Canada, Japan, Britain, France, Italy, Germany and Russia has also focussed on other global hotspots, including Syria. The gathering comes ahead of a G8 leaders' meeting being hosted by US President Barack Obama at his presidential retreat, Camp David, next month. As the ministers met in Washington, a closely-watched ceasefire went into effect in Syria and appeared to be holding, according to UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. The G8 said they would continue to pressure Syria to fully implement Annan's plan, including withdrawing troops from cities.