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U.N. reports "progress" in Iran talks

United Nations: U.N. Security Council Ambassadors reported a ``slight progress'' in their effort to resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis as top foreign policy officials of the five permanent members and Germany decided to meet next week to chalk out a strategy.

Ambassadors of the 15-member Security Council for the first time reported progress on a tough presidential statement that the U.S., Britain and France have drafted demanding that Iran abandon its uranium enrichment plans. After a prolonged meeting in the French Mission to U.N. on Thursday, Ambassadors said China was now taking a more flexible position but that Russia was still holding out. They were hopeful that consensus would be reached which would enable the Council to issue the statement. A statement requires agreement among all 15 members but Britain and France could bring in a resolution which would need nine votes to be adopted provided there is no veto.

Though no firm agreement was reached, American Ambassador John Bolton described the meeting as the best they have had so far.

``There are still areas of disagreement but I am very encouraged,'' he told reporters. — PTI

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