Iran to attend Afghan meet, seeks regional solution

[Coventina]

Source: Reuters

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran said on Thursday it would attend a U.N. conference on the future of Afghanistan which was proposed by Tehran's old foe the United States and called for a regional solution to the "crisis."

But Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said Iran had yet to decide who to send to next Tuesday's international meeting in The Hague, which will be attended by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and delegates from more than 80 countries.

News of Iran's participation is likely to be welcomed by the new U.S. administration of President Barack Obama, who has offered a "new beginning" of diplomatic engagement with the Islamic Republic on a range of issues.

Clinton earlier this month said Iran would be invited to the meeting on Afghanistan, which battles a growing Islamist Taliban insurgency, in a U.S. overture which recognizes the Shi'ite Muslim power's influence in its troubled neighbor.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE52P1U520090326

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I'd be willing to bet this would have never happened under the previous administration.

[Arctic Dave]

1. Sounds like a perfect way to start low level exchanges between us.

As for your bet, I would have to agree with you.

[Posteritatis]

2. Or high-level, depending on who they send (nt)

[Arctic Dave]

3. I would think they would go the slow and easy route.

Gives praise, act humble type of stuff. The Iranians can use it for domestic consumption after the meetings. Something like a meet and greet for everybody.

[Posteritatis]

7. The level's as much the participants as the content

The difference between, say, a member of an ambassador's staff and a cabinet-level official is huge for these sorts of things; the higher both officials, the closer the connection to the head of state and the more likely the meeting will be able to directly affect policy. The Iranians sending anyone to speak with Secretary Clinton would be a major diplomatic coup of course (to say nothing of overdue), but if it's their own foreign minister who attends the conference, that would be a huge statement even if they only talked about the weather.

[Arctic Dave]

9. Absolutely.

And, you are right about being long overdue.

[Prometheus Bound]

4. Iran has certainly been an unofficial US ally in its fight against the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

[bemildred]

5. NATO confirms first high-level meeting with Iran on Afghanistan

BRUSSELS, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Iran and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held their first secret and informal talks in 30 years in Brussels where NATO is headquartered, focusing on Afghanistan, the alliance confirmed here Thursday.

The meeting took place on March 9 between NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Martin Erdmann and Iran's Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union, Ali-Asghar Khaji, NATO deputy spokeswoman Carmen Romero told Xinhua.

"It was a very informal contact and they basically discussed Afghanistan," she added. "You know the secretary-general (Jaap de Hoop Scheffer) has said recently that Iran should be involved in a regional approach in regard of Afghanistan."

Romero said that she did not know if there will be another meeting. However, she said "I don't rule out there will be another contact."

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/27/content_11079421.htm

[SpartanDem]

6. Wow

you mean if you use diplomacy and not blustery threats than you can get people to cooperate with you.

[EFerrari]

8. Are you kidding? That maniac Bolton wanted to nuke them. n/t