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Kerry warns Iran time for nuclear talks is limited | Kerry warns Iran time for nuclear talks is limited |
(about 11 hours later) | |
US Secretary of State John Kerry has warned Iran that talks on its nuclear programme cannot last forever, after a new round failed to make progress. | US Secretary of State John Kerry has warned Iran that talks on its nuclear programme cannot last forever, after a new round failed to make progress. |
"This is not an interminable process," he said at the start of a trip to the Middle East, Europe and Asia. | |
At talks in Istanbul, Mr Kerry also called on Turkey and Israel to restore full diplomatic relations. | |
Later he discussed reviving the Middle East peace process with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. | |
Details of the meeting in the West Bank were not released. | |
Mr Kerry is due to meet Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Israeli President Shimon Peres on Monday, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. | |
'Painful task' | 'Painful task' |
Earlier, in Istanbul, Mr Kerry said after talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu that he saw Turkey as an "important contributor" to efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East. | |
On Iran, Mr Kerry said President Barack Obama was committed to continuing the diplomatic process, despite what he called the complicating factor of elections there in June. | |
"Diplomacy is a painful task," the secretary of state said, "and a task for the patient." | "Diplomacy is a painful task," the secretary of state said, "and a task for the patient." |
World powers suspect Iran of pursuing a covert nuclear weapons programme. | World powers suspect Iran of pursuing a covert nuclear weapons programme. |
Tehran, which insists its intentions are peaceful, is negotiating with the so-called P5+1 group comprising the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, Russia, China, the UK and France - plus Germany. | Tehran, which insists its intentions are peaceful, is negotiating with the so-called P5+1 group comprising the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, Russia, China, the UK and France - plus Germany. |
No new round of talks was scheduled after two days of negotiations in Almaty, Kazakhstan, which ended on Saturday. | |
'Back on track' | 'Back on track' |
After recently helping broker a reconciliation between Turkey and Israel, Mr Kerry said: "We would like to see this relationship that is important to stability in the Middle East and critical to the peace process... get back on track in its full measure.'' | After recently helping broker a reconciliation between Turkey and Israel, Mr Kerry said: "We would like to see this relationship that is important to stability in the Middle East and critical to the peace process... get back on track in its full measure.'' |
That, he told reporters in Istanbul, meant promises of "compensation be fulfilled, ambassadors be returned and full relations be embraced". | That, he told reporters in Istanbul, meant promises of "compensation be fulfilled, ambassadors be returned and full relations be embraced". |
Mr Davutoglu said Turkey would be "careful" in its approach, and stressed that Israeli trade restrictions on the Gaza Strip "should be eliminated once and for all". | |
Mr Kerry also met Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. | |
More than 1.2 million people have fled to neighbouring countries since the unrest in Syria began two years ago, according to UN figures. | More than 1.2 million people have fled to neighbouring countries since the unrest in Syria began two years ago, according to UN figures. |
At least 250,000 are in Turkey. | At least 250,000 are in Turkey. |
Both Turkey and the US oppose Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with Turkey holding that the West should do more to help the Syrian opposition. | Both Turkey and the US oppose Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with Turkey holding that the West should do more to help the Syrian opposition. |
Afghan deaths | Afghan deaths |
The start of Mr Kerry's trip was overshadowed by the death of six Americans, along with an Afghan doctor, in two attacks in Afghanistan. | The start of Mr Kerry's trip was overshadowed by the death of six Americans, along with an Afghan doctor, in two attacks in Afghanistan. |
The Americans included a foreign service officer who had acted as Mr Kerry's guide during his recent visit to Kabul. | The Americans included a foreign service officer who had acted as Mr Kerry's guide during his recent visit to Kabul. |
Anne Smedinghoff, 25, had been delivering books to students in southern Zabul province. | Anne Smedinghoff, 25, had been delivering books to students in southern Zabul province. |
She was the first US diplomat killed in service since last year's attacks in the Libyan city of Benghazi. | She was the first US diplomat killed in service since last year's attacks in the Libyan city of Benghazi. |
Speaking to US consulate workers in Istanbul, Mr Kerry said Ms Smedinghoff's death was a "grim reminder... of how important, but also how risky, carrying the future is". | Speaking to US consulate workers in Istanbul, Mr Kerry said Ms Smedinghoff's death was a "grim reminder... of how important, but also how risky, carrying the future is". |