THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED MONDAY THAT THE FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL, ALONG WITH GERMANY, WILL MEET IN BERLIN ON THURSDAY TO DISCUSS A RESPONSE TO IRANIAN URANIUM ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SEAN MCCORMACK SAID SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE WILL JOIN HER COUNTERPARTS FROM BRITAIN, FRANCE, RUSSIA, CHINA AND GERMANY TO DISCUSS THE STALLED TALKS ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM. 'I THINK THE FOCUS WILL BE ON THE MEDIUM TO LONG-TERM ISSUES ABOUT HOW TO GET IRAN BACK INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF THE NON-PROLIFERATION FRAMEWORK AND HOW TO GET IT TO ROLL BACK ITS PROGRAM,' MCCORMACK SAID. THE MEETING WILL BE PART OF A FOUR-DAY TRIP RICE IS MAKING TO EUROPE, WHICH IS SET TO INCLUDE VISITS TO FRANCE AND BRITAIN. THE SO-CALLED P-5, ALL VETO-HOLDERS IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL, ARE TRYING TO FORMULATE A UNITED POSITION ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES, WHICH TEHRAN SAYS ARE SOLELY FOR CIVILIAN ENERGY BUT MUCH OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SUSPECTS MASKS A NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM. RUSSIA AND CHINA APPEAR TO BE HOLDING UP THE PROCESS BY OPPOSING STRONG LANGUAGE AND THE THREAT OF SANCTIONS. RUSSIAN AND U.S. NEGOTIATORS WORKED OVER THE WEEKEND TO TRY TO REACH A COMPROMISE, BUT MCCORMACK SAID NO FINAL DECISION HAD BEEN MADE. 'WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK THE LANGUAGE,' HE SAID. 'WE OBVIOUSLY HAVEN'T COME TO A CONSENSUS ON LANGUAGE YET.'
