Russia says drawn up proposals for Iran-5+1 meeting in Baghdad

TEHRAN, May 21 (MNA) - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Sunday that Moscow had drafted a set of proposals for talks on Wednesday between Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany). Ryabkov said negotiations needed to produce evidence of progress to the international community, Reuters reported. Proposals included suggested steps for Iran to restore international confidence as well as incentives on cooperation, Ryabkov told reporters on a plane on his way back from the G8 summit in Camp David. He added that any follow-up round of talks should take place within weeks in order to maintain the momentum. "Practical results are needed that can be shown to the international community as evidence that we are moving forward," Ryabkov added. Ryabkov announced in late April that Western countries have shown interest in a Russian proposal aimed to help defuse nuclear dispute between Iran and the West. According to the Russian proposal, known as “step-by-step” approach, Iran would take steps to increase cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and those steps would be rewarded with a gradual easing of sanctions. A senior Iranian lawmaker, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said on Sunday that it cannot be expected that the nuclear dispute between Iran and the West be resolved in a few meetings. Differences over Iran’s nuclear program “cannot be resolved in one or two meetings. It is a false expectation that the Baghdad meeting will mark the end of the negotiations,” said Boroujerdi, chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee.