Iran-Mottaki
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Sunday that Iran is committed to positive approach towards regional and international problems.

About his recent contact with the European Union, Mottaki told CNN, "We believe that exchange of views with the European party has been different both in form and content than the earlier ones.

"So, I believe that we have a new atmosphere with a new prospect.

So, let's start taking steps and make necessary plans for that." Elsewhere in his remarks, Mottaki said, "We will defend our country against any possible threat and attack but Iran's several thousand years history shows that the country has never initiated an attack on other people in the region."
Meanwhile, Russian RIA-Novosti news agency reported that Iran and the EU have reached agreement on a timetable for talks on Tehran's nuclear program.

The agreement was reached between Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and the EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana.

RIA-Novosti quoted IRNA as citing informed sources that the talks will begin in the near future.