Date of release : 16-03-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Event : General Affairs and External Relations Council

After the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 16 March, Jean Asselborn, the Luxembourg Minister for Foreign Affairs and current President of the Council of the European Union, made a statement on the negotiations undertaken by the High Representative for the CFSP, France, Germany and the United Kingdom with Iran on its nuclear programme:

"The Ministers exchanged views on the review of negotiations underway with Iran. They expressed their support for the approach followed by the High Representative for the CFSP, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

In this context, the Ministers welcomed the support from the international community and were pleased by the announcement by the United States that it would actively support these negotiations. In the coming weeks, new meetings are planned with the Iranian side, and we expect this dossier to continue to develop positively. It is, in fact, important to create a political dynamic.

For its part, the EU will continue its negotiations with Iran on a trade agreement and on a policy document. The negotiation sessions were held recently in Teheran (15-16 March)."