Araqchi: Istanbul Meeting Focused On Next Iran-5+1 Talks

Algiers, May 28, IRNA – Senior Iranian nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi said here on Tuesday evening that the Istanbul talks focused on the ways of conducting the next round of the nuclear talks with the G5+1. Talking to IRNA, he noted that the two-day talks between the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, ended on Tuesday, mainly reviewed ways of conducting the next round of talks. Araqchi who is Deputy Foreign Minister for legal and international affairs said detailed and prolonged talks took place with Ashton and her team of experts which included many diverse topics. He described the talks as ˈvery fruitfulˈ and said he believed it led to better understanding of issues relating to advancement of the talks. He said the next round of official talks with the P5+1 is slated for June 16 in Vienna. However, he noted, an expert meeting and a probable political meeting with Ashton may be held by June 16. Araqchi said the level of the meeting is not decided yet. Araqchi is accompanying Zarif in his trip to Algiers to take part in the 17th Ministerial Meeting of the Non-aligned Movement. Zarif left Istanbul for Algiers Tuesday to attend the NAM event. He arrived in Istanbul on Monday for informal talks with Ashton. In addition to delivering a speech during the ministerial meeting of NAM, Zarif is scheduled to meet his counterparts to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues. Iran took over rotating presidency of NAM in 2012 for a three-year period. The 17th Ministerial Meeting of the Non-aligned Movement opened in Algiers on May 26 and will continue for four days. The first two days have been devoted to expert talks. NAM comprising 120 member states and 20 observers has focused on economic and social development, disarmament and international peace./end