Nazarbayev says Kazakhstan is keen to host 5+1 talks

Tehran Times – President Nursultan Nazarbayev says readiness of Kazakhstan to host possible nuclear talks between Iran and the six major powers (five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) is a well-intentioned move which falls within efforts to expand Tehran-Astana ties.

Nazarbayev made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in Astana on Wednesday, the Mehr News Agency correspondent reported.

He described relations between the two countries as “excellent” and said that Kazakhstan is keen to cement ties with Iran in all spheres and has always made efforts to do so.

He said, “We are ready to expand trade ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran and regarding the two countries’ capacities, it is necessary to increase the value of trade.”

During the meeting, Salehi commented on the latest developments in the region, particularly in Syria, and discussed Kofi Annan’s peace plan with Nazarbayev.

Annan, the UN-Arab League joint special envoy on Syria, has put forward a six-point peace plan for ending the crisis in Syria, which calls for a UN-supervised ceasefire by all parties, the withdrawal of soldiers and heavy weapons from cities, and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Iran, 5+1 want negotiations to produce win-win results

During a press conference after the meeting with Nazarbayev, Salehi said that both the Islamic Republic and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) hope that the negotiations will produce win-win results.

Commenting on the upcoming expert meetings in Istanbul, Salehi said that the meetings will focus on the roadmaps and some technical issues.

The latest round of negotiations between Tehran and the 5+1 group was held in Moscow on June 18 and 19. The two sides agreed to hold expert meetings in Istanbul on July 3.