ID :
12828
Thu, 07/17/2008 - 16:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/12828
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US to send envoy to talks with Iran: CNN
New York, July 17, IRNA - The Bush administration has decided to break with previous policy by sending one of its most senior diplomats to engage Iran's top nuclear official, the White House announced Wednesday.
Undersecretary of State William Burns will head to Switzerland for
talks on Saturday.
The move could dramatically alter the three-decade stand-off between
the U.S. and Iran.
Undersecretary of State William Burns will accompany a European Union
delegation during a meeting with Saeed Jalili, Iran's top nuclear
official, in Switzerland on Saturday, White House spokeswoman Dana
Perino said.
The delegation meeting with the Iranians will be led by the European
Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana.
The delegates will discuss an incentives program meant to encourage
the Islamic republic to drop its nuclear enrichment program, Perino
said.
The US decision to attend the talks is not "linked in any way" to
Iran's missile tests last week, a senior administration official told
CNN.
The official said the meeting "had been pending before" the tests occurred.
State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters Wednesday
that the president and his national security team decided only
recently to send Burns to the meeting.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "believes it's a smart step to
take. There is no change in the substance but it sends a strong
signal," McCormack said.
"It sends a strong signal to our P5+1 partners. It sends a strong
signal to the world. It sends a strong signal to the Iranian
government that the United States is committed to diplomacy, to
finding a diplomatic solution to this issue."
McCormack said Burns will be under strict orders to listen to what
Iran has to say but not engage in one-on-one discussions with the
Iranian negotiator.
Burns will also hammer home the point that any direct talks between
the United States and Iran will occur only after Iran suspends its
enrichment program, McCormick said.
Should they take that single step, the United States and its partners
in the P5+1 will meet with the Iranian delegation any time, any place,
anywhere to talk about a variety of subjects, but certainly our focus
will be on the Iranian nuclear program," McCormack said.
McCormack brushed aside criticism that the United States is giving up
too much to Iran. End
Undersecretary of State William Burns will head to Switzerland for
talks on Saturday.
The move could dramatically alter the three-decade stand-off between
the U.S. and Iran.
Undersecretary of State William Burns will accompany a European Union
delegation during a meeting with Saeed Jalili, Iran's top nuclear
official, in Switzerland on Saturday, White House spokeswoman Dana
Perino said.
The delegation meeting with the Iranians will be led by the European
Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana.
The delegates will discuss an incentives program meant to encourage
the Islamic republic to drop its nuclear enrichment program, Perino
said.
The US decision to attend the talks is not "linked in any way" to
Iran's missile tests last week, a senior administration official told
CNN.
The official said the meeting "had been pending before" the tests occurred.
State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters Wednesday
that the president and his national security team decided only
recently to send Burns to the meeting.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "believes it's a smart step to
take. There is no change in the substance but it sends a strong
signal," McCormack said.
"It sends a strong signal to our P5+1 partners. It sends a strong
signal to the world. It sends a strong signal to the Iranian
government that the United States is committed to diplomacy, to
finding a diplomatic solution to this issue."
McCormack said Burns will be under strict orders to listen to what
Iran has to say but not engage in one-on-one discussions with the
Iranian negotiator.
Burns will also hammer home the point that any direct talks between
the United States and Iran will occur only after Iran suspends its
enrichment program, McCormick said.
Should they take that single step, the United States and its partners
in the P5+1 will meet with the Iranian delegation any time, any place,
anywhere to talk about a variety of subjects, but certainly our focus
will be on the Iranian nuclear program," McCormack said.
McCormack brushed aside criticism that the United States is giving up
too much to Iran. End
