http://www.boston.com/dailynews/307/world/Iran_foreign_minister_to_join_:.shtml

Iran foreign minister to join United States in talks on Afghanistan

By Brian Murphy, Associated Press, 11/3/2001 10:33

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iran's foreign minister said Saturday he will take part in talks on Afghanistan's future within a U.N.-backed group that includes the United States.

But Kamal Kharazzi insisted no direct meetings were planned with Secretary of State Colin Powell while a top-level Iranian delegation is in New York for a Nov. 10-16 U.N. General Assembly meeting, which had been postponed because of the Sept. 11 attacks.

''There will be no bilateral exchanges'' with Powell, Kharazzi told reporters at a news conference Saturday with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

But the planned meeting of the so-called ''six-plus-two'' group offers Iran and the United States a rare common forum to discuss efforts to topple the Taliban and the terrorist network of Osama bin Laden. Washington cut ties with Iran following the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

No date has been set for the group's meeting, but it is expected to occur during the U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York.

The U.N.-formed group includes six Afghan neighbors Pakistan, Iran, China, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as well as the United States and Russia.

It was formed last year to try to broker an end to Afghanistan's civil wars, but its focus has shifted to seeking a political coalition to succeed the Taliban if it crumbles under the U.S.-led offensive.

Both Iran and the United States seek the Taliban's demise. Iran helps arm the anti-Taliban northern alliance militia, but it strongly opposes the U.S. bombing campaign. Iran fears it signals a long-term U.S. military presence in the region.

''The U.S. presence in central Asia has an effect on the whole region ... We cannot remain indifferent to this,'' said Kharazzi.

Papandreou the latest European Union envoy to visit Iran since the New York and Washington attacks urged for increased attention to address the ''roots'' of terrorism, including ongoing clashes between Israelis and Palestinians.

''In this changed world ... we are rethinking and reviewing policies and redefining coalitions and forms of cooperation,'' said Papandreou, wrapping up a four-day trip that also included Pakistan and India.

-- Anonymous, November 03, 2001