question about an instance of "auseinandersetzen"

[edmont]

I am not clear on how one knows in the following case if "auseinandersetzen" means "to discuss" or instead means "to argue". 

Wir glauben keinen Anläß zu haben, uns mit Ihnen über die Meinungsverschiedenheiten ... im Wege einer öffentlichen Diskussion auseinanderzusetzen.

One of my dictionaries tells me that "sich mit jdm auseinandersetzen" means to argue with someone -- so I guess that is the meaning above.

Thank you for any assistance.

[Keswick]

Reading the German sentence I would neither use "to discuss" nor "to argue". In this context I would use the verb "to deal with": We don't believe to have a reason to publicly deal with you in regards to the/your conflict of opinion.

[edmont]

Keswick, thank you very much.

I understand you to say that "deal with" is preferable. Would you say that "argue with" and "discuss" as translations in this case are 1) impossible or bad, or 2) not impossible or bad, just not as good as "deal with"?

Wir glauben keinen Anläß zu haben, uns mit Ihnen über die Meinungsverschiedenheiten ... im Wege einer öffentlichen Diskussion auseinanderzusetzen.

Thanks again!

[Keswick]

"argue with" or "discuss" are both possible in this case, but I'd say they're not as commonly used as "to deal with". Ultimately I'd say which of the verbs you use depends on the overall context.

[edmont]

Keswick, thank you!