the foreign policy chief katherine ashton is also attending. they say it's impossible to discuss halting the uranium enrichment program. they added the country has the right to continue with the program for peaceful purposes. the comments were an official response to a proposal by the western countries at the previous meeting in baghdad last month. the western delegates at that time suggested they would ease some economic sanctions on iran if the country stopped enriching uranium to levels used in weapons. iaea spokespersons told reporters that iran is simply repeating old statements. a high-ranking iranian official said the western countries need to win talks to make progress in the dialogue. they will resume on tuesday. >>> a u.n. conference opens on wednesday in rio de janeiro on how to meet human needs while protecting the planet. the main focus is sustainability development. how to strike a balance between economic growth and preserving the environment. nhk world reports on a town in brazil that has embraced the promise of sustainable agri

eu foreign policy chief katherine ashton is also attending. the iranian delegate says ipts impossible to discuss halting the program. they added the country has the right to continue with the program for peaceful purposes. the comments were an official response to a proposal by the western countries at the previous meeting in baghdad last month. the western delegates at that time suggested they would ease some economic sanctions on iran if the country stopped enriching uranium to levels used in weapons. a spokesperson said that iran is simply repeating old statements. meanwhile, a high-ranking iranian official said the western countries need to win iran's trust to make progress in the dialogue. the talks will resume on tuesday. >>> economic growth is vietnam is catching the eyes of the world. another key factor attracting foreign investors is deposits of valuable minerals. japan is reaching out to vietnam to help it step up production and have its own future supplies. nhk world has more. >> reporter: japan has looked at vietnam as a provider o

no, it was not hillary clinton, it was katherine ashton. so let's have a little less sneering, please, and a little more seriousness. now, i was under the impression that canadians actually watched hockey on friday nights rather than debated politics. but i guess you couldn't miss the opportunity of seeing all of us at each other on the stage on the subject of europe, me an englishman, he a scotsman, he a germany and he sort of frenchman which sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, really. which is what i understand many of you think europe and its currency are at the moment. but danny and i are going to ask you to step back. and we're going to ask you to look at a more serious and a bigger picture. we're going to ask you to measure the european union against a longer history and a bigger aim. and before we can define failure in this motion, we have to know what we're talking about. and indeed, the eu's currency zone is certainly in trouble. and it's sending out distress signals. i don't deny that. but the eurozone is not the whole europe

the phone number is katherine ashton. you call the phone number then you get a computer voice, for germ press one. for france press two. that tells you where europe is at. but let me say something else. i think europe was a wonderful idea. after all, the god of gods, zeus, risked his marriage with the misses when he was so smitten by europa that he ran off with her. and the roman poet sings, till in the open sea he bores pride, the right-hand grasp a horn, the other upon his back. now, europe was also wonderful idea several years later when it decided to unify after the two most murderous wars in history. what a maffing story. first six nations get together. they integrate, then vote now they are 27. then blow by blow common market for goods, capital, services, and people. democracy with european parliament. and finally no more track mas, the europe raines from port gal to the borders of poland. what would come next? of course the united states and europe. wrong, wrong. europe is crumbling before our eyes. the grandest ex

first of all, katherine ashton sent a letter to the iranians and mr. jalili said there would be respect for iranian interest in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology. and this, i think, created the hope among the iranians that, actually, uranium enrichment could be discussed, it was a negotiable thing, and it would be on the table. they were willing, i think, to reduce their 20% requirement, but no such op decision was on the -- proposition was on the table. actually, the question was that the p5+1 insisted on suspension of uranium enrichment. and i think the second thing that there was this question of that the iranians needed guarantees of being able to access 20% uranium because of their one million cancer patients, and no such guarantees were provided. i think there's a history. i presume that the iranians have had a hard time in getting 20% uranium, enriched uranium for these medical purposes. on the other hand, of course, giving up maybe the 20% enrichment then the iranians would expect a relaxation on sanctions. no such proposal was on the tab