Russian Foreign Ministry: too early to hold P5+1-Iran ministerial meeting
MOSCOW. Oct 14 (Interfax) - A ministerial meeting between P5+1 and Iran requires a solid foundation. It is too much early to hold this meeting dedicated to the situation surrounding the Iranian nuclear program, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Monday.
"We have to understand that such a meeting requires a foundation. It is necessary to prepare the ground and to determine the areas of discussion worthy of the attention of a minister, of his position. So far we believe that the negotiations will continue in the format used in previous years," he said, replying to a question from Interfax.
"If the need to hold a ministerial meeting between P5+1 and Iran occurs at some point, we will have no problem with that," Ryabkov remarked.
"Indeed, a window in the busy schedule of Minister Lavrov may be found although it will be difficult to coordinate and reconcile it with the schedules of his colleagues," he said.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton currently represents P5+1 at the negotiations with Iran. She is assisted by political directors from P5+1 member countries on the level of deputy foreign ministers, Ryabkov recalled.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif-Khonsari said earlier on Monday that a ministerial meeting might be necessary to reach a final agreement after the Iranian talks with P5+1 that are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday "to discuss the situation around the Tehran nuclear program."