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EU welcomes Iran`s decision on NPT

IRNA

Brussels, Nov 11, IRNA -- The European Commission, the EU`s 
executive arm, Tuesday welcomed the decision by the Islamic 
government in Iran to sign the Additional Protocol (AP) to the 
nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and said the European bloc 
is interested in expanding ties with Tehran. 
"Of course the more clearly Iran states its intention to sign the 
AP the happier we are because we believe it is in Iran`s own interests
and in the interest of the international community," Commission 
spokeswoman for external relations, Emma Udwin, told the daily press 
briefing in Brussels this afternoon. 
"We would like to see the deeds and the words.. we would like to 
see the implementation of the very welcome announcement that Iran has
made," she said. 
Udwin said there will be an "interesting discussion" on EU-Iran 
ties during the EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels next week 
on Monday. 
"We are very interested in exploring in widening and deepening 
our relationship with Iran," she added. 
US secretary of state Colin Powell is also to meet EU foreign 
ministers in Brussels next week and discuss the situation in Iraq and 
the Middle East. 
The Islamic Republic`s official letter on its determination 
to sign the AP to the NPT was submitted to the head of of the 
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei in 
Vienna Monday. 
Iran`s permanent representative to IAEA, Ali-Akbar Salehi 
stressed that Iran has decided as well to suspend all its uranium 
enrichment activities, particularly those in Natanz plant 
in central Iran, from November 11. 
NK/213 
End