FM Rejects Ashton's Claim Iran Is Wasting Time

Addis Ababa, Jan 28, IRNA – Iranˈs Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi here Monday rejected claim made by European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton accusing Tehran of wasting time. Talking to reporters in the Ethiopian capital, Salehi said Iran has always announced its readiness to hold talks so that positive outcome would be achieved. Salehi, who is in Addis Ababa for 20th African Union Summit, said Iran has never cut off negotiations. Asked about the future talks between Iran and the sextet, comprising US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany, Salehi said Iran suggested Egypt to host the talks. He said the proposal was welcomed by Cairo but the Group 5+1 was interested in holding the negotiations in another country. Salehi further said Turkey is also one of the choices, adding that some other states including Kazakhstan, Sweden and Switzerland are also willing to host the talks. On Tehran-Cairo relations, he reiterated that bilateral talks between the two ancient countries are against no country. As to developments in Sudan and South Sudan, he hoped the two would end disputes and solve the existing problems./end