Iran talks positive

Updated: 2012-04-16 07:59

(China Daily)

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The latest negotiations between six- world powers and Iran on its nuclear program mark a positive development in international efforts to ease tension over the long-standing issue.

The talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany were held on April 14 in the Turkish city of Istanbul amid worldwide attention and expectation.

After the talks, the European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who headed the delegation of the six world powers, described the dialogue as "constructive and useful". The parties have agreed to meet again in Baghdad, Iraq, on May 23.

It is good to see the six parties concerned are spearheading diplomatic efforts to defuse the growing tensions over Iran's nuclear program, which Tehran says is purely peaceful, but which the Western leaders suspect is a program aimed at developing nuclear weapons.

The resumption of talks, the first in 15 months, is the result of joint efforts by all parties involved and hasn't come easily. During the talks China pushed all sides to show flexibility and sincerity, and take each other's concerns seriously, so as to make the dialogue a success.

And the talks do seem to have been fruitful as Assistant Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, who led the Chinese delegation, said that all sides are willing to conduct dialogue to find a "comprehensive, just and proper settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue".

However, the international community should be fully aware of the complexity and difficulty of the Iranian nuclear issue. It will take time for the two sides to dispel their mutual mistrust and bridge their differences. Prior to the talks, politicians in the United States and Israel had openly talked about military strikes against Tehran and the US had sent aircraft carriers and warships to the region.

To pave the way for sustained results leading up to the peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue, the parties concerned should take the Istanbul talks as a new beginning of engagement, show the utmost patience and commit to building on this momentum.

The situation concerning Iran cannot be allowed to deteriorate further as that will have disastrous consequences and serve no one's interests.

Continued dialogue is the only way to arrive at a solution acceptable to all and maintain regional stability.

(China Daily 04/16/2012 page8)