EU Approve Iran Sanctions

European Union foreign ministers meeting Monday in Brussels put Iran on notice that it will be punished for refusing to suspend its uranium enrichment program.

The ministers endorsed a United Nations Security Council resolution passed in December. The sanctions prohibit countries from exporting nuclear and weapons technology to Iran as well as impose visa bans and freeze assets of some Iranian officials.

"We want to maintain an door open for negotiation, but Iran knows what we want them to do," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said.

Germany, France and England, backed by Solana, offered Iran political and economic incentives to suspend uranium enrichment. Despite the decision to impose sanctions, the EU says that offer still stands.

Enriched uranium can be used to make atomic weapons. Iran claims it is developing nuclear technology only to meet its energy needs. Europe and the United States, however, fear Tehran wants to develop a nuclear arsenal under cover of a civilian nuclear program.

Open to negotiations

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said a Sunday speech made by Ari Larijani, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, could signal that Iran wants to return to and continue negotiations.

"Now what we have to do is look at the proposal that Iran is presenting and see if this paves the way back to the negotiating table," Steinmeier said.

Steinmeier said he and Solana both thought there was an opportunity to reopen talks.

"We both have the impression that in Iran there is a new ambition to return to the negotiating table," Steinmeier told reporters Monday, referring to meetings he and Solana conducted with Larijani. "In the course of the next few days, we will have to sound out whether they (Iran) can pursue that line.

"We need to see what the signals are from Iran, whether they are serious," Steinmeier added.

"Possibilities are not immense"

Larijani said Iran wants a negotiated settlement and doesn't want to aggravate the tense political situation in the region.

Solana, however, was cautious, saying "the possibilities are not immense" and that he had yet to hear any new proposals from Iran.

On Friday, the International Atomic Energy Agency cut its aid package to Iran by nearly 50 percent. The cuts were meant to send a strong message to Iran to shut down its uranium enrichment activities.

"Sanctions are one part of the double track approach we are taking in Europe," said Spanish state secretary for European affairs Alberto Navarro. "We know it is just the first step and these sanctions should be gradual."

Iran risks more extensive economic sanctions if it fails to comply with a UN Security council deadline later this month to stop enrichment.

EU ready to give Serbia a new chance

The ministers also said they were willing to give EU-hopeful Serbia "a new chance" for talks on closer ties, but stressed that a resumption of stalled negotiations would depend on Belgrade's determination to arrest fugitives suspected of war crimes.

Steinmeier told reporters that a new Serbian government must "live up to its responsibilities and cooperate with ICTY," the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

"A new reform and Europe-oriented government can make a new start, get back on the road to Europe and regain lost time," said EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn. "This new government deserves a new chance."

Belgrade must investigate war crimes

However, Rehn said the EU would resume suspended talks with Serbia only if the new government took "concrete action" and showed "clear commitment" in the search for fugitive Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic and other key war crimes suspects.

"Full cooperation with ICTY remains the necessary condition for the pace and conclusions of stabilization talks," Rehn said.

The 27-member bloc froze negotiations on closer economic and political ties -- the first step towards EU membership -- with Serbia in May 2006, demanding Belgrade show "full cooperation" with The Hague-based tribunal.

EU foreign ministers also said that they were fully supporting a United Nations plan that sets Serbia's breakaway region Kosovo on the road to independence.

The plans by UN envoy for Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, "provide comprehensive arrangements designed to promote in Kosovo a multi-ethnic and democratic society based on the rule of law," they said.

Belgrade and Pristina must "participate actively and constructively" in upcoming talks on the plan, EU ministers said, adding that the bloc was ready "to play a significant role in the implementation of the status settlement."

Rehn said he also expected Russia to support the UN plan, arguing that a long-term solution for Kosovo must be backed by all members of the international community.

"Kosovo will be a real test for multilateralism," Rehn said.