Germany In Talks With Iran Over Likely Confidence-building Measures

Berlin,May 22, IRNA -- Germany is involved in talks with Iran on likely confidence-building measures ahead of an international meeting later this week in Baghdad on Tehran's nuclear program, a senior German official said here Monday. Addressing media representatives in Berlin, deputy foreign ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer expressed hope that Wednesday's Baghdad talks could result in "concrete but short-term measures" aimed at pushing ahead the confidence-building process. He pointed to ongoing talks between Iran and Germany on the confidence-building issue as well as coordination among the so-called P5 plus 1 group composed of the US, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany. Schaefer reiterated the need for Iran to make real progress on substantial issues on Tehran's nuclear program. He urged Iran again to clarify all outstanding questions with the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Iran and the six western powers revived talks on the nuclear matter in Istanbul in March. Both sides termed the meeting as "positive" and are cautiously optimistic on the next round of discussions in Baghdad./end