Talks on sideline of summit discuss Iran nuclear dispute

While working to reduce the tension over Iran's nuclear program, Turkey is hoping that next month's talks between six world powers and Tehran in Istanbul will facilitate this, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said late on Wednesday. Davutoglu was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a regional economic summit in Istanbul after meeting with acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Salehi were in Turkey to participate in a summit of the 10-member Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). "Our overall goal is extremely clear," Davutoglu told reporters, namely that Turkey wants to see the entire world free of nuclear weapons. Turkey wants to reduce tensions via the peaceful use of nuclear energy, he added. "We will do our best" at next month's meeting in Istanbul, he said. "But our role is clear: We are the host. We will give whatever support the parties ask for."