[NYTr] He may have resigned, but Iranian Negotiator Apparently Still on the Job

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Tehran Times - Oct 22, 2007
http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=155422

Larijani to attend nuclear talks with Solana

Tehran Times Political Desk

TEHRAN – Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said on
Sunday that Ali Larijani will meet with EU foreign policy chief Javier
Solana in Rome on October 23 along with Saeed Jalili who has replaced
Larijani as the Supreme National Security Council secretary.

“Nuclear talks with Javier Solana will be held on Tuesday and Dr.
Jalili will be present in the talks. Of course Dr. Larijani, as the
representative of the Supreme Leader in the National Security Council,
will also attend the conference,” Hosseini told a weekly press briefing.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneii and President Mahmud Ahmadinejad
are insisting Larijani’s presence the in talks, Hosseini explained.

Larijani’s resignation as the national security chief was announced
officially on Saturday.

Hosseini said Larijani’s resignation will not cause any change in
Iran’s nuclear policy. “The Islamic Republic of Iran’s policies,
strategies, and nuclear objectives are unalterable.”

No need for superficial talks on Iraq

On the next round of Iran-U.S. talks on Iraq, Hosseini said that there
is no need for “superficial negotiations.”

“What Iraq needs now is a change in the approaches and behavior adopted
by the United States regarding the country’s (Iraq) internal condition.”

U.S. planned defense shield not aimed at Iran

The spokesman said a U.S. plan to establish missile defense shield in
Eastern Europe is not related to Iran’s nuclear program and it is
“merely a pretext” by Washington to justify its military agenda.

The U.S. has claimed that the planned missile defense shield in Poland
and the Czech Republic is aimed to counter what it has called threats
by Iran and North Korea. However, the Kremlin officials have openly
said the missile shield is aimed at Russia.

“The Islamic Republic has never been a threat to European countries,
and instead Iran has close ties with members of the (European) Union
and they are considered our greatest commercial partners,” Hosseini
explained.

Lebanon’s problem originates from U.S. interference

One of Lebanon’s major problems is the obvious interference of the U.S.
in the country’s internal affairs, Hosseini said.

He said the U.S. has foiled sincerer attempts by certain countries to
broker a deal between rival factions in Lebanon.

Hosseini said Tehran would support any plans that would guarantee
Lebanon’s security and national interests and be accepted by all
political groups in the country.

Diplomacy best solution to tensions in northern Iraq

On the recent developments in northern Iraq, Hosseini said, “We believe
that diplomacy is the best solution, and radical actions will only
aggravate the situation in the region.”

The root of the problems should be sought, he added