D-8 Group Avoids Iran-US Dispute

NUSA DUA, Indonesia (Reuters) – A summit of eight Muslim-majority nations did not specifically discuss the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Saturday.

The Developing Eight’s final declaration did not refer to the matter, but Yudhoyono said he told his Iranian counterpart directly “that a continued cooperation should be made between Iran and the IAEA to have a peaceful, just solution.”

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad responded that he was willing to continue talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency and pursue other diplomatic discussions, Yudhoyono said.

Some countries, led by the United States, are concerned that nuclear projects which Iran, the D-8’s outgoing chairman, says are for peaceful purposes might in reality have military aims.

The Developing Eight — Iran, Indonesia, Egypt, Malaysia, Turkey, Pakistan, Nigeria and Bangladesh — held their fifth summit on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali this week.