Monday, February 02, 2009

AFP, Berlin, 31 January 2009 (excerpts) – Senior diplomats from six world powers trying to convince Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions will meet next week in Germany for their first meeting since US President Barack Obama took office, a German official said Friday.
Political directors from the UN Security Council permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — plus Germany will meet Wednesday near the western city of Frankfurt, German foreign ministry spokesman Jens Ploetner told a news conference.
The six powers offered Tehran a set of economic and energy incentives in exchange for halting its uranium enrichment programme which the West sees as a cover to acquire nuclear weapons capability.
But Tehran is pressing on with its sensitive nuclear fuel work, insisting that its nuclear programme is peaceful and solely geared toward electricity generation.
Germany said Monday it had drastically cut its export guarantees for companies trading with Iran.