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E.U. "troika" against referring Iran issue to U.N.

Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW: The European Union's `troika' of German, France and the United Kingdom are against referring Iran's nuclear programme to the United Nations' Security Council, said British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw here after talks with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

"I would like to state on behalf of the E.U. and the `troika' that we do not want the Iran dossier to be sent to the U.N. Security Council," Mr. Straw was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

He said if a country was found in violation of its obligations under NPT, it may be referred to the Council.

Mr. Straw praised E.U.'s interaction with Russia over Iran and said there were "no contradictions" between the E.U. "troika" and Russia on Iran.

Mr. Lavrov agreed: "There are no contradictions here." Russia is firmly opposed to taking Iran to the Security Council.

Mr. Straw, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, E.U. Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and E.U. High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana are in Moscow for a Russia-E.U. meeting.

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