Iran & NATO In "Informal Talks" -- Sec Clinton Does Not Plan Substantive Talks With Iran At Conference On Afghanistan
Sun, 03/29/2009 - 20:00 | by uaniadmin<!--[if gte mso 9]>
<![endif]-->AFP reported that "An Iranian diplomat and a Nato official have held "informal talks" at alliance headquarters in Brussels in the first such meeting in 30 years, Nato officials confirmed Thursday." (http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/138681/iran-nato-hold-talks-in-30-years)
Reuters reported that "U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has no plans for a 'substantive' meeting with Iranian officials at a conference on Afghanistan in the Hague next week, the State Department said on Thursday." (http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN2649534820090326)
The NY Times reported that "Today, Syria seems to be coming in from the cold.... At the root of these changes is Syria's alliance with Iran. Saudi Arabia and the other major Sunni Arab nations once hoped to push Syria away from Iran through isolation, and now - like President Obama - they appear to be trying sweeter tactics." (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/27/world/middleeast/27syria.html?_r=1&ref=world&pagewanted=print)
The Telegraph reported that "The Foreign Secretary praised President Barack Obama's 'outreach' to Iran, but gave warning that Tehran must lay to rest the international community's suspicion that its real aim was to develop nuclear weapons.... Speaking at the launch of the Foreign Office's annual human rights report, Mr Miliband said that America's new approach presented Iran with a fresh chance. 'There will never be a better opportunity than that created by President Obama's election and his commitments and his recent outreach to the government and people of Iran,' he said. The Foreign Secretary urged Iran's leaders to 'think very carefully about the possibility that now exists for a different kind of dialogue not only with us, but with the US'." (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/5057710/Iran-should-seize-chance-for-talks-with-US-David-Miliband-says.html)
Reuters reported that "The Obama administration is taking tentative steps to turn around caustic U.S. relations with Tehran but experts expect a bumpy, unpredictable ride to reverse three decades of hostility and mistrust." (http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge/idUSTRE52Q2ZZ20090327)
AP reported that "A Swiss court on Thursday found a Czech man guilty of breaking export laws by selling technology to Iran that could be used for missile-building. The Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona sentenced the unidentified 61-year-old man to pay a fine and court costs totaling 5,000 Swiss francs ($4,440). It also ordered some 26,500 francs in profits seized. Prosecutors said the man exported electronic components in 2004-06 to companies in Malaysia and Hong Kong that are known to procure goods for Iran's armament program." (http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/03/26/europe/EU-Switzerland-Iran-Illegal-Exports.php)
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote in an editorial that "Through his new year's message, the president extended the hand. It is now time for Iran to unclench the fist." (http://www.star-telegram.com/242/story/1282128.html)
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