E-MAIL THIS LINK
To: 

Ahmadinejad says Iran open to dialogue on nuclear standoff
Iran is open to dialogue to resolve the standoff on its controversial nuclear programme, but will not give up its right to possess atomic energy, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday. "We believe that dialogue is the best way to resolve the issue and we are always ready for dialogue," Ahmadinejad told reporters in Istanbul after talks with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul.

But negotiations had to take into account Iran's right to develop nuclear energy technology, he added. "Those who do not respect that will lose themselves. There will be no change in the will of the Iranian people," he said.

Iran is risking a possible fourth round of UN sanctions after it failed to give a clear response to an incentives package offered by six major world powers in return for halting its uranium enrichment activities.

Earlier this week, Iran said it was ready to hold more delaying talks with the European Union on the package offered by Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. Iran's top nuclear negotiator met with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, in Geneva in July. They also spoke on the phone earlier this month. "The talks in Geneva were positive ... and we believe that a positive direction was found," Ahmadinejad said.
Posted by: Fred 2008-08-16
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=247319