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Iran Geneva talks stall?
US says talks didn't move, Iranian press upbeat
Iran and the European Union's chief negotiators agreed on Saturday to resume talks on suspending uranium enrichment in two weeks, after Tehran ruled out freezing its program in talks that included the United States for the first time. After the meeting European Union Envoy Javier Solana said the meeting was constructive but added " the reply to the answer I was looking for has not come clearly,". Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili said Tehran would remain constructive, but asked that Western powers not turn away from negotiations. But Undersecretary of State William Burns left Geneva without making public comment On her way to Abu Dhabi for a meeting with Arab foreign ministers US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice accused Iran of stalling, "It's time for the Iranians to give a serious answer." In Tehran the reactions were more upbeat, President Ahmadinejad saying the talks were a “step forward” and newspaper headlines talking of optimism. Babak Yektafar of Washington Prism says talked the talks were upstaged by the first ever meeting Between high level representative from Tehran and Washington. US says talks didn't move, Iranian press upbeat ... more -
Who can and who can't have nuclear weapons?
Aijaz Ahmad: What would a rational American foreign policy look like? Part 4
Aijaz Ahmad:The Nuclear Nonproliferation treaty was signed by non-nuclear countries on the assumption that there would be a swift move towards disarmament by those that already had them would begin to disarm and even destroy their nuclear stockpiles. Aijaz Ahmad: What would a rational American foreign policy look like? Part 4 ... more -
Obama Arrives In Afghanistan : NPR
Afghanistan is the first stop on a week-long overseas trip during which Sen. Barack Obama also plans to visit Iraq. His presence there is considered part of a congressional delegation and not part of his presidential campaign.
Barack Obama visited Saturday with U.S. troops and Afghan officials in this war-weary nation, which is the focal point of his proposed strategy for dealing with threats to the U.S. if elected president. Afghanistan is the first stop on a week-long overseas trip during which Sen. Barack Obama also plans to visit Iraq. His presence there... more -
Temple tensions high ahead of talks
Thailand and Cambodia say they are willing to negotiate over a disputed temple site as troop numbers escalate.
Both sides are due to hold talks on Monday to resolve the latest row over the ancient temple site which the International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 belonged to Cambodia, a decision which still angers many Thais. Thailand and Cambodia say they are willing to negotiate over a disputed temple site as troop numbers escalate. ... more -
US attends historic Iran meeting
A senior United States official is taking part for the first time in international talks with Iran over its controversial nuclear programme.
The official, William Burns, is joining envoys from the EU and permanent members of the UN security council.
They are expected to discuss with the country's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, incentives for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment.
Mr Burns' attendance is being seen as a major shift in US policy.
The US and Iran have had no diplomatic relations since the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the taking of hostages at the US embassy in Tehran.
Formal contact between the two countries have been extremely limited, though last year they met at ambassadorial level to discuss security in Iraq.
Conciliatory move
Since 2002, when President George W Bush famously named Iran as one of the countries that formed the "axis of evil", his administration had insisted that no face-to-face talks would be held unless Iran suspended the enrichment of uranium, which it says could be used to produce nuclear weapons. A senior United States official is taking part for the first time in international talks with Iran over its controversial nuclear prog... more -
U.S. sticking with tough stance on Iran negotiations
Rice: 'Iran a difficult, dangerous state'
On the eve of one of her top diplomats meeting with an Iranian official, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States is sticking to its policy that Iran must suspend its nuclear program before negotiations can proceed.
She said the meeting that Undersecretary William Burns will join Saturday in Geneva, Switzerland, with European officials and Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, is "in fact a strong signal to the entire world that we have been very serious about this diplomacy and we will remain very serious about this diplomacy."
But Rice also said, "It should be very clear to everyone the United States has a condition for the beginning of negotiations with Iran and that condition remains the verifiable suspension of Iran's enrichment and reprocessing activities.
"Iran is a difficult and dangerous state, and it is a state that is pursuing policies that are dangerous to our friends and dangerous to international peace and stability -- particularly its support for terrorism and its pursuit of this nuclear technology that could lead to a nuclear weapon," she said. "But we have been very clear that any country can change course. The United States doesn't have any permanent enemies."
Iran has said its nuclear program is strictly to produce energy and defends its right to proceed with enrichment. Rice: 'Iran a difficult, dangerous state' ... more -
Bush to send envoy to Iran nuke talks
Top US diplomat to meet Iranian nuclear negotiator despite Iran not halting enrichment program.
In a dramatic turn, the Bush administration is sending top diplomat, undersecretary of State William Burns, to weekend talks with Iran's chief nuclear envoy without Iran having first halted it’s nuclear enrichment program. It will be the first time such a high-ranking US official has attended such talks. The meeting will be held on Saturday in Geneva by European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili. The P5 + 1, the five permanent members of the UN security council plus Germany, have offered Iran a package of incentives on the condition that Iran halts uranium enrichment - a process that can be used to generate electricity, or make a nuclear weapon. But Iran insists that it has the right to do so under the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. The White House denied an all-out policy shift Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Western countries to observe the Islamic Republic's limits on the nuclear issue and respect them in talks set for this weekend. Top US diplomat to meet Iranian nuclear negotiator despite Iran not halting enrichment program. ... more -
US official to attend nuclear talks with Iran
A top US official is to attend talks aimed at persuading Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment program.
Under Secretary of State William Burns will travel to Switzerland with the EU foreign envoy Javier Solana to receive Iran's response to a UN offer.
The US said Mr Burns would not hold separate talks with Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili, and was there to listen.
In the past, the Bush administration has insisted that no talks will be held with Iran until it suspends its uranium enrichment program. Now, in a clear shift in policy, it seems a meeting is going to take place without that precondition being met.
The Bush administration says Mr Burns's presence is designed to demonstrate the West's unity and to reiterate that the terms of negotiations remain the same - namely that Iran must first halt its uranium enrichment programme for further talks to take place. A top US official is to attend talks aimed at persuading Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment program. ... more -
On The Importance Of Negotiations
How do Iranians react to threats of attack?
Triita Parsi talks about the effect of threats on Iranian public opinion, and on how vitally important it is to negotiate. He underscores the fact that an attack on Iran would unify the country with its leadership and hasten its efforts to develop a nuclear bomb. How do Iranians react to threats of attack? ... more -
A new future for Colombia?
Colombian BBC News viewers believe that the release of Ingrid Betancourt could result in some form of negotiation between the Colombian government and the FARC rebels. Do you think this 44-year-old conflict can see an end in the near future?
On an added note, the guy in the picture is not only relevant but also looks awesome. Colombian BBC News viewers believe that the release of Ingrid Betancourt could result in some form of negotiation between the Colombia... more -
Cheney blocked talks with Iran
Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to United States Secretary of State Colin Powell, describes how the Veep blocked an offer from Iran for negotiations. Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to United States Secretary of State Colin Powell, describes how the Veep blocked an offer fr... more
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Japan appoints its first ambassador of cartoons... or cartoon ambassador.
I wonder what meetings will be like with doraemon. I thought it should be Anpanman...
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Mid East peace talks back on
Condoleezza Rice has convinced Israel and Palestine to return to the negotiating table despite the recent violence against Hamas controlled Gaza by Israel this week.
Who still thinks there a chance "middle east peace" will be in place by the time Bush is out of office? Condoleezza Rice has convinced Israel and Palestine to return to the negotiating table despite the recent violence against Hamas contr... more -
Four shot dead by Kenyan police
The trouble in Kenya is still underway after another four people were killed by Kenyan police following more violent protesting in the west of the country.
The trouble reported is said to be in light of the death of a second ODP opposition party MP, who was shot yesterday by police.
Following on from the shooting the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging that the unrest must be halted. Kenya's situation looks nothing short of dire at the moment with over 850 people being killed in what is now reaching nearly a month long struggle over political standings in the country. The trouble in Kenya is still underway after another four people were killed by Kenyan police following more violent protesting in the... more -
Talks delayed after Kenyan MP shot dead
Kenya's rival politicians today postponed negotiations brokered by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan after the killing of an opposition MP.
"We have postponed this afternoon's session and we will work all day tomorrow so that the leaders can attend to urgent matters and call their constituents," Annan told reporters.
The postponement came after the MP, David Kimutai Too, was shot dead in the Rift Valley town of Eldoret, the second MP from the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to be killed this week. Kenya's rival politicians today postponed negotiations brokered by former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan after the killing of an... more -
Economic rescue package announced
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi agreed to drop increases in food stamp and unemployment benefits during the Wednesday meeting in exchange for gaining rebates of at least $300 for almost everyone earning a paycheck, including low-income earners who make too little to pay income taxes.
Families with children would receive an additional $300 per child, subject to an overall cap of perhaps $1,200, according to a senior House aide who outlined the deal on condition of anonymity in advance of formal adoption of the whole package. Rebates would go to people earning below a certain income cap, likely individuals earning $75,000 or less and couples with incomes of $150,000 or less. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi agreed to drop increases in food stamp and unemployment benefits during the Wednesday meeting in exchange f... more -
US to host Middle East Peace Conference
The United States has invited Israelis, Palestinians, Syrians, Saudi Arabians, and the UN to discuss the future of the region.
These will be the first full-fledged talks on Peace in the Middle East since 2000. The United States has invited Israelis, Palestinians, Syrians, Saudi Arabians, and the UN to discuss the future of the region. ... more -
Chavez hopeful about fate of hostages.
Chavez has been acting as a mediator between the Colombian government and FARC Rebels over hostage negotiations. The Venezuelan leader is confident that evidence that the hostages are alive will be available by the end of the year.
One of the hostages is Ingrid Bettancourt, a French-Colombian politician. Chavez has been acting as a mediator between the Colombian government and FARC Rebels over hostage negotiations. The Venezuelan leader... more
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