Germany Ready For Nuclear Co-op With Iran: Westerwelle

Berlin, April 18, IRNA -- Germany is ready for nuclear cooperation with Iran once the stalemate on Tehran's nuclear program is resolved, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle told the Dusseldorf-based business daily Handelsblatt. "Iran's right for civilian use of nuclear energy has never been disputed. "We, Germans, have repeatedly also offered to support the (Iran's) civilian use of atomic power,' Westerwelle added. Meanwhile, Germany's chief diplomat hailed again the latest round of talks between the so-called P5 plus 1 group (US, Russia, China, France, Britain, Germany) and Iran in Istanbul on Saturday. "The negotiations took place in a constructive atmosphere. That's positive because we want a political solution to the row over the Iranian atomic program," according to Westerwelle. He stressed it was important to make "real progress" on the substantial questions when both sides meet again in Baghdad on May 23. The five UN veto powers plus Germany will 'soon' hold expert-levels talks with the Iranian side geared at preparing for next month's meeting in the Iraqi capital, German foreign ministry spokesman Andreas Peschke announced in Berlin Monday. There are preparations on a working-level to set the stage for the May 23 talks in Baghdad to address substantial questions on Iran's nuclear program, he said./end