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EP Wants Better Parliamentary Relations

EP Wants Better Parliamentary Relations
EP Wants Better Parliamentary Relations

The European Parliament plans to dispatch a delegation of MEPs to Tehran in an effort to improve parliamentary relations with Iran.    

Chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs Elmar Brok made the announcement in a meeting with a delegation of Iranian lawmakers in Brussels, IRNA reported on Thursday. The meeting was also attended by Kazem Jalali, head of the group of the parliamentary relations of the Islamic Republic of Iran with the European Parliament, and Mahmoud Barimani, Plenipotentiary Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, the European Union and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.  

Commenting on the relations between Iran and European countries, Brok suggested, "Iran can act as a major energy exporter to the European Union." He also described the recent round of nuclear talks between Iran and the six major powers known as the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) in New York as "highly positive", expressing hope that the negotiations will come to a final conclusion. On the ongoing developments in the region, Brok lamented that his country of origin lost about half of its population in two world wars, calling on the international community to "learn from history" and stop wars wherever possible. "Tehran-Riyadh collaboration is crucial to resolving the crises in the region," he also noted.

Jalali, for his part, described as "positive" a visit paid to Iran last year by Brok leading a delegation of MEPs (Members of the European Parliament), and expressed Iran's readiness to expand parliamentary ties with Europe.  On nuclear negotiations, he said, "Like in the past, Iran is committed to whatever it agrees to," voicing concern over some moves by the other side that could sabotage the talks on a final settlement to Iran's nuclear issue.  Referring to a joint statement recently issued by French President Francois Hollande and Saudi King Salman, Jalali said the statement included "numerous contradictions and negative points."  

France and Saudi Arabia said last Monday any future deal between Iran and the major powers had to ensure that it did not destabilize the region further and threaten Iran's neighbors.  Referring to the Saudi assault on Yemen, the lawmaker reiterated Tehan's call for establishing intra-Yemeni dialogue and preventing foreign interference to help defuse the crisis in the war-hit country.

Financialtribune.com