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July 11, 2009

Iran Downplays G8 Stance
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2548040:A6F02AD83191E160026AE892790EDC802A201403E89ED254&
 
Group of Eight declaration criticizes Iran's crackdown on post-election
demonstrators, its pursuit of suspected nuclear weapons program 
Iran's foreign minister is downplaying a Group of Eight declaration
against his country's crackdown on post-election demonstrators and its
pursuit of a suspected nuclear weapons program. Iran's FM Manouchehr
Mottaki (File)Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters in
Tehran Saturday that Iran is preparing a package for the West that will
serve as a good basis for talks. Mottaki said Iranian officials have not
received any new message from the three-day G8 summit, which ended
Friday. The leaders of the world's richest nations met in L'Aquila,
Italy where they released a statement saying the G8 is losing its
patience with Iran. On Friday, U.S. President Barack Obama said Iran
must show a willingness to negotiate an end to its sensitive nuclear
activities by September or face consequences. Mr. Obama says the world
will not wait indefinitely and allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.
He warned if Iran does not agree to negotiate soon, the international
community may take additional steps to address the issue. Regarding
Iran's disputed election, Mr. Obama said summit leaders unanimously
condemned what he called the "appalling treatment of peaceful
protesters" by Iranian authorities. Demonstrations broke out after a
June 12 election that reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi said was
rigged. The Iranian government says incumbent President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad won by a landslide. Some information for this report was
provided by AFP and Reuters.


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