Statement by the Spokesperson of High Representative Catherine Ashton following the meeting of E3/EU+3 experts and Iran, Istanbul, 18 March 2013

The Spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, issued the following statement today:

"As agreed in Almaty, experts of the E3/EU+3, led by nuclear expert Dr. Stephan Klement, on behalf of Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative, had technical discussions with Iran in Istanbul on 18 March 2013. The Hıgh Representative would like to thank the Turkish Government for hosting the talks.

The E3/EU+3 experts provided further details on the revised confidence building proposal put forward to Iran during the meeting ın Almaty on 26 and 27 February. The meeting also provided an opportunity for both E3/EU+3 and Iranian experts to explore each other's positions on a number of technical subjects.

As previously agreed, these technical talks will be followed by a meeting at political level in Almaty on 5-6 April."

ENDS