EUROPE EXPECTS IRAN'S ANSWER BY THE END OF JUNE
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC NEWS AGENCY (IRNA)
June 19, 2006
The European Union expects a reply from the Islamic Republic on its new package by the end of this month and not before the EU-US summit to take place in Vienna on Wednesday.
"Our expectations are that Iran should respond soon, not before the (EU-US) summit, but by the end of the month,'' EU sources told reporters in Brussels Monday.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the sources said Iran is certainly an issue that will be discusses at the leaders' session during the EU-US meeting.
"We work very closely together. We are awaiting a signal from the Iranians,'' said the sources.
Referring to the visit of EU High Representative for a common foreign and security policy to Tehran earlier this month to present the new EU package, the sources said "it was an important advance for EU diplomacy." The EU sources also welcomed the acceptance by the US to hold direct talks with Iran.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, current President of the European Council and Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel and US President George W. Bush will meet at the EU-US Summit on 21 June in Vienna to discuss foreign policy cooperation, energy security, economy and trade, and other global challenges.
On energy, leaders are expected to step up EU-US cooperation to a strategic level and to promote a set of principles for responsible energy policies worldwide.
Iran, the Middle East and the promotion of democracy are expected to dominate the foreign policy agenda, said an European Commission statement.
Other participants at the summit will include EU Commissioner for external
relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU Commissioner for Trade Peter Mandelson,
Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik as well as EU High Representative
Javier Solana from the EU side and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
from the US side.