. . .

QUESTION: Iran.

MR. CROWLEY: Yes.

QUESTION: So the EU says December 5th for the talks? What do you make of that?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, our understanding is that Catherine Ashton's office has responded to Iran. They've accepted Iran's recommendation of December 5th and I think, as her office indicated, looks forward to meeting with Dr. Jalili on that date. We expect that the nuclear program will be among the - will be the leading issue discussed. I believe Catherine Ashton's office also indicated that it would be the preference of the P-5+1 to meet in - somewhere in Europe and has proposed Austria or Switzerland.

QUESTION: So you don't have a venue?

MR. CROWLEY: I think that's still to be determined.

QUESTION: And when you say "somewhere in Europe," that's - considering the fact that you think that Turkey is in Europe --

MR. CROWLEY: A more --

QUESTION: -- but the Europeans don't.

MR. CROWLEY: -- a more central location for the first meeting.

QUESTION: Why not Turkey?

MR. CROWLEY: This was something that was discussed with the P-5+1 political directors earlier this week, and Istanbul could still be a location for a second or follow-on meeting, but the general consensus is that the first meeting should be somewhere in Central Europe.

QUESTION: Why - I mean, why? That's what I don't understand.

MR. CROWLEY: I - as a preferable location.

QUESTION: Why? I mean, why not Istanbul or why not anywhere in Turkey for that matter?

MR. CROWLEY: Well, we've had - the previous meeting was in Geneva. That seemed to be a location that satisfied the travel arrangements for all members of the P-5+1.

QUESTION: But they proposed this. I mean, did the other side --

MR. CROWLEY: Well, Iran --

QUESTION: -- (inaudible) been trying to get it to the table for the last 15 months.

MR. CROWLEY: Iran proposed Istanbul as a possible meeting location. Catherine Ashton's office has gone back expressing a preference for a meeting in Austria or Switzerland.

QUESTION: I understand. One more time, why? I mean, you've said it four times. I mean, I'm just kind of curious why. Why not? I mean, you still have not explained why not.

MR. CROWLEY: I just said, we think it's a more appropriate and a more convenient location for the first meeting.

QUESTION: On a related issue, and just for the record since you're on camera and on the record, is this the preliminary meeting with Ashton and Jalili or is this the P-5+1 and Jalili?

MR. CROWLEY: Our expectation is this would be a meeting with Dr. Jalili, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, as well as the political directors of the P-5+1.

. . .