Even though Burns' meeting with Jalili on Saturday was the highest-level contact between the two nations since 1979, it did not signal a significant shift in Washington's policy toward Iran, some analysts said.

Iran gave no clear answer to the package of incentives for suspending its nuclear program, though the country is asked to make a response within two weeks.

"We have not got an answer to the most important issue," Solana said on Saturday. "We are looking forward to an answer to these questions in a couple of weeks."

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kisliak, who also attended the talks in Geneva, was quoted by the Russian Ria-Novosti news agency as saying that he too expected a response from Iran in two weeks.

The United States and its allies have accused Iran of trying todevelop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program. Iran has denied the U.S. charges and insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

On June 14, Solana handed the offer of incentives to the Iranian authorities on behalf of UN Security Council permanent members -- France, Britain, Russia, China and the United States --plus Germany (Group 5+1), in a bid to persuade Iran to halt uranium enrichment.

Iran has also presented its own package of proposals, which is aimed to help resolve regional and international problems, including Iran's nuclear issue.

Jalili, in his meeting with Kisliak in Geneva on Sunday, said that commonalties of the roadmaps proposed by the two sides can be the basis for future talks between Iran and major powers, according to IRNA's report.

"The two proposed roadmaps have good common points for continuation of talks and can serve as a good basis for future activities," Jalili said. "The points of difference between the roadmaps are also worth discussing."

(Xinhua News Agency July 21, 2008)