European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana arrived in
Tehran on Monday night to present Iran a six-nation proposal over
Iran's disputed nuclear issue.
"We want to start a fresh relationship with Iran on the basis of
mutual respect and mutual trust, the new proposal could let us be
engaged in negotiations based on trust, confidence and respect,"
Solana told reporters at Tehran's Mehrabad International
Airport.
Voicing hope of a "new relationship" with Iran, Solana said that
"we want to restart a fresh relationship and we want to do it based
on what I said before, based on a spirit of trust and respect and
confidence."
"The proposal we bring along will allow us to get engaged in
negotiations based on trust, confidence and respect," he stressed.
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany
agreed a new package over Iran's disputed nuclear issues last
Thursday.
The two-part package contains economic and political incentives,
including talks with the United States, to encourage Tehran to
abandon uranium enrichment. It also implicates a threat of UN
sanctions if Iran doesn't comply.
Iran has repeatedly claimed that it would never suspend the
uranium enrichment activities.
A few hours before Solana's arrival, Iran's Foreign Minister
Manouchehr Mottaki said at the airport that his country would
examine the new proposal and then give a formal response to the six
world powers.
"If they can consider Iran's legal nuclear demands and don't
politicize the issue, I think we could have an reasonable agreement
with them," said Mottaki.
Meanwhile, Mottaki disclosed that Solana would meet Iran's top
nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani on Tuesday. Solana may also meet
with Iran's flinty President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The United States and European countries claim that Iran is
using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to produce nuclear
weapons.
Tehran has repeatedly denied the charge, saying its nuclear
program is merely to generate electricity, not bombs. Iran has
repeatedly said that it will not give up its right under the
nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to enrich uranium and produce
nuclear fuel for power plant.
(Xinhua News Agency June 6, 2006)
