Iran Sets Date For Talks With EU; U.S. Wants Answer Before G8 Summit
Matthew Borghese - All Headline News Staff Writer Brussels, Belgium (AHN) - Iranian officials have postponed a meeting with EU authorities on a diplomatic and economic package which Tehran may accept in exchange for an end to its nuclear program. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, explains, "I was surprised to hear that Dr Ali Larijani, Secretary General of the Iranian National Security Council, has decided at the last minute to postpone his trip to Brussels, as previously agreed with him to take place today. I had made clear to the Iranians and to Dr Larijani that we want to proceed rapidly to examine together the ideas I put to him early last month." Now, Solana and Larijani will meet on Thursday, and again on July 11, to try and come to an agreement before the Group of Eight (G8) industrial powers meet in a St. Petersburg summit on July 15. In the United States, White House Press Secretary, Tony Snow, tells reporters, "We have made it clear ... that we expect an answer by the 12th before the G8 summit begins." In the United Kingdom, a Foreign Office spokesman maintains the brush-off in Brussels only "adds to a suspicion that Iran is playing for time." In fact, Iranian officials say they will not give the world their answer on whether or not they will accept the proposal, until at least August 22.
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