Istanbul
18 July 2008
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki says he expects thisweekend's talks in Geneva that will include the participation of a U.S.diplomat will bring significant progress in negotiations over Iran'snuclear program. His comment was made during a visit to the Turkishcapital Ankara. For VOA, Dorian Jones reports for VOA from Istanbul.
Iran'snuclear program topped the agenda of talks between the Iranian ForeignMinister Manouchehr Mottaki and his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan.
Mottaki'svisit comes ahead of Saturday's meeting in Geneva with theinternational community over growing concerns about Iran's nuclearprogram.
Both the United States and Israel suspect Iran ofcarrying out a secret program to build atomic weapons - a chargedenied by Tehran.
But Mottaki, addressing a press conference, expressed optimism about the talks.
Thenew negotiation process, with the participation of a U.S. diplomat,looks positive from the outset, but we hope that is reflected in thetalks, he said.
The United States until now had ruled outparticipating in negotiations with Iran unless it stopped uraniumenrichment. But the decision to send senior U.S. diplomat William Burnswas described as a positive move by the Iranian foreign minister.
Foreign Minister Babacan stressed the importance of talks rather than conflict to resolve the current Iranian tensions.
Dialogand consultations are necessary to build confidence. We stress theimportance of dialog in all of our meetings. We wish for the process tocontinue successfully, he said.
Mottaki also welcomed reportsthat Washington may open a diplomatic presence in Tehran for the firsttime since the Islamic revolution in 1979.
He said, I thinkthere might be an agreement both on the issue of opening a U.S.interest protection bureau in Iran and on the issue of direct flightsto Iran.
The U.S. State Department Thursday declined to confirmor deny a report in Britain's Guardian newspaper that the Bushadministration has decided to set up a diplomatic "interests section"in Tehran. The newspaper said the announcement would be made withinthe next month.