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EU repeats concerns over Iran'' s nuclear programme

BRUSSELS, Feb 25 (KUNA) -- A day before the next round of talks between Iran and the E 3+3 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States), in Almaty, Kazakhstan tomorrow, the EU Monday repeated its concerns over the Iranian nuclear programme.
"While the European Union's objective remains to develop with Iran a constructive partnership, from which both sides could draw benefits, since 2005 the serious concerns over the Iranian nuclear programme have dominated EU-Iran relations," noted an EU press release here today.
"Deep and increasing concerns about unresolved issues and Iran's continued refusal to comply with its international obligations and co-operate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) led to resolutions by the UN Security Council in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010, imposing sanctions against Iran, which are binding on all UN member states," it said.
"Detailed IAEA findings on Iranian activities related to possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear programme, reflected in the IAEA report from November 2011, have further exacerbated concerns over the nature of Iran's nuclear programme," it stated.
It noted that against this background and the lack of Iranian engagement in the talks with the E 3+3 led by the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, the EU decided to extend its sanctions regime in October 2012.
"The objective of the EU remains to achieve a comprehensive, negotiated, long-term settlement which would build international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme, while respecting Iran's legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy," it stressed.
Ashton in her role as designated negotiator on behalf of the E3+3, has resumed talks with Iran on 14 April 2012 and held several rounds of meetings in Istanbul, Baghdad and Moscow since but wihtout any breakthrough. (end) nk.tg KUNA 251555 Feb 13NNNN