Ashton expects 'balanced' response from Iran on nuclear issue

European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton Friday said the meeting later today with the top Iranian nuclear negotiator Dr. Saeed Jalail in Almaty, Kazakhstan, is an opportunity to "hear the Iranian response" regarding Tehran's controversial nuclear file. "We're back here in Almaty for the second time. When we were here for Almaty I, we put forward a very clear and concise proposal for a confidence building measures, as part of our approach to try and tackle our concerns about the nature of the nuclear program of Iran," she said in remarks, excerpts of which were broadcast by the local media in Brussels. Iran and the 5+1 Group (China, France, Russia, UK, US plus Germany) first met in Almaty on 26th and 27th of February. "What we are looking for today, when we meet with Dr Jalili and his team, is an opportunity to hear from them their response, which we trust will be a considered, balanced and well thought out response to try and reach an agreement on how we move forward," said Ashton, currently in the Kazakh capital, leading the 5+1 Group to the talks with Iran on its nuclear program. At issue is Iran's enrichment of the uranium. The 5+1 grouping is particularly concerned about its enrichment to levels of up to 20 percent and the Fordo fortified bunker where such activity is conducted. They also want Iran to ship out its existing stockpile of 20-percent enriched material. Iran denies it is developing the atomic bomb and argues that it needs its nuclear program for peaceful needs. The powers proposed in February that Iran shut the Fordo reactor and in exchange receive small concessions that hold out the hope of greater ones if it made a bigger step.