Russia and EU to discuss Iranian nuclear programme

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to discuss Tehran’s nuclear programme with European Union leaders in Vienna this week, ahead of talks with Iranian negotiators in Moscow.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said Lavrov would also discuss the situation in the Middle East and the rights of Russian-speakers in the formerly Soviet Baltic countries of Latvia and Estonia in a meeting on Wednesday with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, external affairs commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik and Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, RIA-Novosti reported.

Iranian negotiators are expected in Moscow on Thursday for talks on a proposal to shift Tehran’s nuclear enrichment activities to Russia.

Moscow’s plan, backed by the United States and EU, is intended to allay concerns about Iran’s potential use of atomic fuel to produce nuclear weapons.

Tehran has so far shown little enthusiasm for the idea.