U.S. diplomat joins Iran talks

GENEVA, Switzerland, July 19 (UPI) -- Javier Solana, representing the European Union at talks with Iran, said Saturday he expects a response to Western proposals soon.

Solana, after a day of discussions that included U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns, appeared at a news conference with Iran's top negotiator, Saeed Jalili, CNN reported. Solana called the talks "constructive" and that he expects Iran's answer within two weeks.

However, Solana said, "We still didn't get the answer we are looking for."

In addition to Burns, Jalili and Solana, diplomats from the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany were in the talks.

The United States and Iran have had no diplomatic relations since 1979. Burns' attendance at the negotiating session, even though U.S. officials are calling it a "one-time event," is being seen as a nod to pragmatism by U.S. President George Bush.

The BBC said the best evidence that Bush's long-standing policy of avoiding all diplomatic contacts with Iran was in a speech delivered Friday by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. She said Iran was "a difficult and dangerous state," but added, "We have been very clear that any country can change course."

Saturday's meeting was to hear Iran's response to a package of Western incentives offered to persuade it to suspend its nuclear activities.