LOC15:55
12:55 GMT
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)
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KUNA 251555 Feb 13NNNN