President Rouhani Calls For Switzerland’s More Active Role In N-talks

Vienna, Oct 20, IRNA – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a meeting with new Swiss Ambassador to Tehran Giulio Haas on Saturday said that the Swiss government has the capacity to play more important role in nuclear talks between Iran and Group 5+1 and it can take necessary steps to help proceed the talks. On the eve of Geneva talks on Iran’s nuclear program, Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter had voiced Bern’s readiness to act as a mediator in nuclear talks. Burkhalter held a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif on the second day of Iran-G5+1 talks on Wednesday which he said in a media statement were mostly centered on planning for the next round of talks in Geneva. A day after the talks, Burkhalter also held a meeting with European Union Foreign Policy chief and the head of Group 5+1, Catherine Ashton during which the two sides discussed the results of the talks and stressed a diplomatic solution to the issue. Prior to Geneva talks, the Swiss foreign minister had expressed optimism that the talks would yield good results. He had also said that his country wanted a significant breakthrough in negotiations. On the importance of holding talks over Iran’s nuclear program in Geneva, he said that hosting the nuclear talks was important for international prestige of Geneva and Switzerland./end