AFP, Washington, Feb 25, 2010 – The US pointman on talks with world powers on Iran sanctions will travel to Brazil on Friday to pave the way for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s trip there next week, Clinton’s spokesman said.
Both senior diplomat William Burns and Clinton, who is due to visit Brazil on Wednesday, will discuss ’the way forward on Iran’ when they hold talks in the capital Brasilia, spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.
Burns will discuss a number of issues and ’help prepare for Secretary Clinton’s visit,’ he added.
’I wouldn’t argue that Iran will be among the major issues we discuss with Brazil,’ the State Department spokesman told reporters when it was suggested that Iran would be the main reason for Burns’s visit.
’I would expect climate change to be on that list as well, but it is an expanding relationship and there are a number of bilateral issues that he will talk about as well,’ Crowley said.
’But clearly Brazil is an emerging power with growing influence in the region and around the world, and we believe that with that influence comes responsibility,’ he said.
’And we will be talking to Brazil about the way forward on Iran,’ he added.
Burns, the undersecretary of state for political affairs, is the US pointman for consultations among the P5-plus-1, the international group dealing with efforts to halt Iran’s contested nuclear program.
The group is made up of the five permanent veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council — the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France — plus Germany.
’I am certain that undersecretary Burns will bring them up to date on the P5-plus-1 process, and so will Secretary Clinton in her meetings with the president and foreign minister next week,’ Crowley said.
As part of a five-country tour of Central and Latin America, Clinton will meet Wednesday with Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Foreign Minister Celso Amorim in Brasilia.