Almaty Announces Readiness For Hosting Iran-G5+1 Talks

Tehran, Aug 21, IRNA -- Kazakhstans Foreign Minister Ardalan Idrisov in a phone conversation with Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali-Akbar Salehi announced his country's readiness for hosting the new round of talks between Iran and the 5+1 Group. The AEOI information website announced that Foreign Minister Idrisov initially congratulated Salehi on his appointment at his new position as a vice-president. The top Kazakh diplomat referred to the good record of the Iran-Kazakhstan cooperation as “good memories”, expressing hope that Irans nuclear file would as soon as possible end well. Salehi, for his part, appreciated the Kazakh foreign minister both for the congratulation phone call and for the invitation, telling him that he would be glad if the Iran-Group 5+1 could be held in Almaty. Kazakhstan had also announced on August 13th that it was again ready to host talks between Iran and world powers on Tehrans nuclear energy program. Speaking at a press conference in Astana, the Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Sarybai had said that Kazakhstan intended to provide logistic services and if necessary it would also facilitate the negotiating process. He added that Iran had positively reacted to the proposal to hold a new round of talks with the G5+1 group - namely Russia, China, France, Germany, Britain and the United States in Kazakhstan. Last month senior diplomats from the six countries negotiating with Tehran met in Brussels to map out plans for diplomacy following the election of a new president in Iran. Negotiations have been on hold since a round of talks in April and the six nations are keen to get back to the table. The six powers have demanded that Tehran abandon 20 percent uranium enrichment. Tehran says it needs atomic power for energy generation and medical research. Other than a suspension of enrichment of uranium to 20 percent fissile purity, the six powers have asked Iran to ship out the existing stockpile of the material and close down a facility where such work is done./end