Iran, German FMs To Discuss US Offer Of Direct Talks With Tehran

Berlin, Feb 2, IRNA -- German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle will meet with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi on Saturday at a high-level security conference in Munich on Saturday to discuss the USˈ recent offer of direct talks to Iran. Speaking at a joint press briefing with European Union chief diplomat Catherine Ashton at the foreign ministry in Berlin, Westerwelle said his talks with Salehi would focus on a likely Iranian response to Washingtonˈs offer for direct negotiations with Tehran. He urged Iran to adopt a ˈconstructiveˈ stance on the US proposal, citing the ˈimportance of direct talksˈ not only for the global security, but also for a diplomatic and political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue. Westerwelle hailed Salehi as a ˈtrustworthyˈ negotiation partner who really delivers on his promises. Salehi is to address the Munich Security Conference on Sunday. This year the annual Munich Security Conference is slated for February 1-3./end