6 World Powers Agree on Iran IncentivesGRU.NET/AP
June 1, 2006
By ANNE GEARAN and GEORGE JAHNEXCERPT:
VIENNA, Austria - Six world powers agreed Thursday on a "significant" package of incentives to persuade Iran to halt its uranium enrichment program, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Becket said.
"I am pleased to say we have agreed (on) a set of far-reaching proposals," she said. "We believe they offer Iran the chance to reach a negotiated agreement based on cooperation."
She added that "if Iran agrees not to engage in negotiations, further steps will have to be taken."
Additionally, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Russia and China were considering joining the United States and three key European countries in any nuclear talks with Iran if there was a basis for negotiations.
After a meeting by France, Britain, Germany, the United States, Russia and China, Becket said "we urge Iran to take the positive path" and promised to suspend Security Council action against Tehran if it agreed to halt enrichment.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with the foreign ministers from the European nations that led stalled talks with Iran last year, and also with representatives of Russia and China. Russian and Chinese support is crucial to attach the threat of United Nations sanctions or other punishment to the package of incentives.