PanARMENIAN.Net

Iran, NATO hold first talks in 30 years
28.03.2009 12:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An Iranian diplomat has held informal talks with
NATO officials for the first time in 30 years.

Senior NATO negotiator Martin Erdmann said he had met Iran’s
ambassador to the European Union, Ali-Asghar Khaji, more than two
weeks ago. "This is another good step in engaging Iran in the
international community," said Mr Erdmann.

A NATO spokesman, James Appathurai, said the talks with Mr Khaji had
concentrated on Afghanistan.

Iranian diplomats have confirmed their attendance at US-backed talks
on Afghanistan taking place at The Hague next week.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, as well as delegates from more than
80 countries, are due to attend the conference.

"The fact that Iran has decided to go," said Mr Appathurai, "is good
news and constitutes a new step."

In Washington, a spokesman at the State Department, Gordon Duguid,
also welcomed the Iranian decision to go to The Hague talks. "The
Iranians will be around the table," said Mr Duguid. "We will hear
their points of view and they will hear our points of view about
Afghanistan."

Some news reports have suggested that NATO countries with forces in
Afghanistan might have an interest in using Iran as a supply route.

Correspondents also point out that the opening of a dialogue between
NATO and Iran comes as President Barack Obama has set new priorities
for the United States in Afghanistan and weeks after he signaled a
willingness to revitalize American relations with Tehran, BBC reports.
From: Baghdasarian