Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-06-26

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK leader Papandreou holds talks in Iran

[01] PASOK leader Papandreou holds talks in Iran

Papandreou already met on Monday with the country's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and the Supreme Security Council Secretary, and head of Iran's negotiating team, Ali Larijani, while on Monday night (at 10.30 local time) he was due to meet with the President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

In a statement he made after the two meetings, Papandreou said that the aim of the Socialist International is a for a peaceful solution to be found for the benefit of the entire region, a solution which, as he said, "will not have losers but will provide prospects and essence for cooperation and which might change the course of history in the region."

Papandreou referred to the particular concern of the international community over the nuclear programme of Iran, as well as to "the great diplomatic mobility part of which is his Tehran visit".

He also referred to the special relations developed by Greece with the Moslem and Arab world, as well as with Iran, and stressed that he believes that these relations will contribute a great deal to achieving the target of finding a peaceful solution.

The issue of relations between Greece and Iran was mentioned during his talks in Tehran, while reference was also made to the initiative of the "six", which former prime minister Andreas Papandreou had undertaken in the 80s, for a decrease in nuclear armaments.

The position of the Socialist International is that there must be control of the proliferation of nuclear weapons, but it recognises Iran's right to produce and use nuclear energy exclusively for peaceful purposes.

As it appeared from statements by Iranian officials, Tehran would accept steps being taken towards finding a peaceful solution but it does not believe that these steps can only be taken unilaterally.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article