Friday, 16 June 2006Leaders of the 25-member European Union ended their two-day summit in Brussels Friday afternoon reiterating the EU's commitment to a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear issue.
"The European Council reiterated its commitment to a diplomatic solution which addresses international concerns about Iran's nuclear programme while affirming Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy in accordance with the NPT," they said in a statement.
The EU Council welcomed the important initiative of the EU High Representative (Javier Solana), the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, the Russian Federation and the United States, agreed in Vienna on 1 June 2006.
EU leaders gave their "full support to the balanced approach incorporated in the Vienna initiative, and encouraged "Iran to take the positive path that is offered."
The Council welcomed the meetings of EU High Representative Javier Solana, accompanied by representatives of France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation, with the Iranian authorities in Tehran on 6 June, and the constructive atmosphere in which this visit took place .
The Council urged Iran to "give an early positive response to this far-reaching initiative and to create the conditions whereby negotiations can resume."
Meanwhile, Austrian foreign minister Ursula Plassnik, whose country holds the current EU Presidency, told a press conference that "we are convinced that our position on Iran is the right one." "It is Iran's issue to work in the right direction for new prospects, " she added.
IRNA Friday June 16, 2006
|
Friday, 16 June 2006
Iran
|
|
