Biden & Kerry interviewed on Iran - with a Midde East channel?

[Muttocracy]

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=173431

Kerry, Biden welcome contact with Iran

Two top U.S. senators have welcomed Washington’s decision to attend for the first time international talks on Iran’s nuclear program.

“I think it’s a positive initiative. I think it’s a very sensible offer,” U.S. senator and former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry told Press TV on Saturday in an exclusive interview. “I hope that Iran will engage in a truly legitimate discussion.”

In a major shift from past policy, the U.S. State Department announced its third-highest ranking official, Under Secretary of State William Burns, would be present at talks in Geneva on Saturday between Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, and envoys from China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany.

The talks will focus on the package of incentives offered by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (5+1 group).

The U.S. State Department announced that Burns would only observe the talks and not engage in the negotiations.

But in an exclusive interview with Iran’s English language satellite channel, Press TV, Democratic Senator Joe Biden called on the Bush administration to engage in direct contact with Iran after the upcoming nuclear talks.

“The administration is now proceeding in the right course and I think we should have direct negotiations, direct discussions after the 5+1 group with Iranians if they are willing,” said Biden.

The Bush administration had previously insisted that no talks would be held with Tehran until the suspension of its nuclear program.

On Friday, in response to a reporter’s question on the unexpected move to send a diplomat to meet directly with Iran’s Jalili, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice explained why the administration has softened its tone towards Tehran.

“The United States doesn’t have any permanent enemies.” Rice responded. “We have been very clear that any country can change course.”

Rice reiterated however that Washington has not lifted its conditions for engaging in talks with Tehran over its nuclear program.

“It should be very clear to everyone that the United States has a condition for the beginning of negotiations with Iran and that condition remains the verifiable suspension of Iran’s enrichment and reprocessing activities,” she said.

Speaking in Ankara on Friday, the Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki also welcomed the ‘new positive approach’ by Washington.

“If the negotiations continue in this way, I hope there will be a positive outcome,” Mottaki told reporters after talks with his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan.

(Source: Press TV)

[jillan]

1. Biden or Kerry definitely should be SoS.

Either one of them would be a 100x better than "I never saw the memo" Condi.

[gateley]

2. This is ANOTHER reason I wanted Joe for POTUS --

These countries come to HIM to get his input. They respect him. Who did Bhutto and Musharraf talk to before talking to Bush or Rice?

And this statement by Rice HORRIFIES me:

“The United States doesn’t have any permanent enemies.” Rice responded. “We have been very clear that any country can change course.

This reminds me of my best friend Jim's onetime girlfriend Gretchen. They were having an argument and she said "Relationships require compromise, Jim - now what are you going to do to change?". Seriously. She was all for compromise, as long is Jim was the one doing all the compromising. Rice's US will be allies with anyone -- as long as they do what we tell them to.

[PatSeg]

3. Oh, how funny!

I wonder if Jim's girlfriend realized what she was saying!

[gateley]

4. No - she saw nothing wrong with her attitude -- just like Rice.

She firmly believed that as long as Jim did what she thought he should, she would see herself as "compromising".

[PatSeg]

5. And that attitude is so common

What a strange species we are!