DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - U.S.A./IRAN: SEC. RICE & MOTTAKI EXCHANGE "SWEET NOTHINGS"

Rice and Iran's Mottaki had brief exchange

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (AFP) - US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had a brief exchange over lunch Thursday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said.

"There was an exchange of some words, yes. They are civilised people after all," said Abul Gheit, adding that the lunch was attended only by foreign ministers.

When asked if Rice and Mottaki sat next to each other, he answered: "Beside each other you mean? No, but the table was a small table."

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack confirmed the brief exchange but added that it did not go beyond basic civilities.

"They said hello."

Rice and Mottaki are taking part in a two-day international conference in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh aimed at stabilising Iraq.

Speculation has abounded in recent days over possible talks between Rice and Mottaki, in what would be the highest-level bilateral discussions between the two countries since they broke off ties in 1980.

Despite Thursday's brief encounter being empty of political substance, it was believed to reflect a new willingness on the part of Washington and Tehran to engage in some form of dialogue.

Mottaki and Rice could yet meet again before the conference wraps up on Friday.

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IRAQ: RICE AND MOTTAKI SHARE LUNCH

Sharm el-Sheikh, 3 May (AKI) - US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki had lunch at the same table Thursday in Sharm el-Sheikh, where they are attending an international conference on security in Iraq, said the head of Egyptian diplomacy Ahmed Aboul Gheit. The two top officials were not seated side by side "but the table was small," said Gheit. The much awaited talks between the two - which would signal a turning point in relations between Iran and US frozen for almost 30 years - have not taken place yet though Rice and Mottaki did talk "together with others," said Gheit.

No information was given on the topic of the conversation.

Iran and the US broke relations after the 1979 storming of the US embassy in Tehran. The Mottaki-Rice bilateral talks would be the first encounter between top level officials from the two countries since then at a time of great tension over Iran's nuclear programme and US allegations that Tehran is sponsoring Shiite insurgents in Iraq.



Pertinent Links:

1) Rice and Iran's Mottaki had brief exchange

2) IRAQ: RICE AND MOTTAKI SHARE LUNCH