FM Spokeswoman: Iran, G5+1 To Hold Talks At Deputy FM Level

Tehran, Jan 8, IRNA – Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham announced that the upcoming talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) will be held at the level of deputy foreign ministers. In view of the fact that many complicated issues had to be talked about, these negotiations have continued until now and fortunately with the getting closer of the viewpoints of both sides in this round of talks, it is hoped that good understanding will be achieved, Afkham said in her weekly press conference in Tehran on Tuesday. The foreign ministry spokeswoman pointed to the end of expert-level talks as the first step by Iran and the Group 5+1, and said, What has remained of talks with the Group 5+1 should continue at the higher level which is the level of deputy foreign ministers. Afkham pointed to the talks between EU Foreign Policy Deputy Chief Helga Schmidt and Irans Deputy Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi, and said, In these talks the two sides will exchange views on the remaining issues of the expert-level talks and I hope that this round of negotiations will help resolve the remaining issues. She said a timetable for implementation of a joint plan of action agreed upon by Iran and the Group 5+1 countries would be set after few remaining issues are resolved. Afkham said senior member of the Iranian negotiating team Abbas Araqchi is to meet with Helga Schmidt, deputy of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, on ways to implement the Geneva deal made on November 24, 2013 in the Swiss city. There are only a few issues about implementation of the joint plan of action which are to be discussed at a higher level, Afkham said. She added more details about implementation of the joint plan of action would be made public after Araqchi-Schmidt meeting. Experts of Iran and Group 5+1 organized a mechanism or a joint plan of action for implementation of the bilateral agreement between Iran and the world Sextet (US, Britain, Russia, France and China plus Germany). The experts have proposed January 20 for implementation of the joint plan of action. Commenting on lifting of unjust anti-Iran sanctions, Afkham said the two sides expert groups have so far held several round of talks on the issue the last round being held from December 29-30, 2013./end