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Kharrazi hopes IAEA would meet Iran`s reasonable expectations

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Seoul, May 31, IRNA -- Visiting Foreign Minister Dr. Kamal Kharrazi 
expressed here his optimism that Iran`s full cooperation and 
consultations with the IAEA would merit realization of its meritrious 
expectation for normalization of ties with the nuclear watchdog. 
AT a meeting with South Korea Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon here 
Monday, Kharrazi gave a brief overview of Iran`s continuing and 
transparent cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. 
"Iran, with the honest and full cooperation it has accorded the 
IAEA, hopes its Board of Governors, in its next meeting, will meet the
country`s reasonable expectation arising out of its thorough and 
constructive interaction with the agency and hopes that its 
nuclear file will be closed without political strains and purely on 
legal and technical issues," the Iranian minister said. 
Alluding to various ways of bolstering current bilateral 
relations between the two countries, he added, "Tehran sees various 
potentials for expansion of cooperation between the two countries 
beyond their current level." 
To elucidate on his point, he said the two countries` state and 
private sectors can "launch serious measures to increase current 
cooperation by setting up joint ventures, balancing their trade 
exchanges and opening new transactions through trade consultations 
and exchange of visits." 
"Iranian officials are ready to start negotiations with South 
Korea toward an economic accord that will avoid double taxation as 
well as encourage economic and trade exchanges," he added. 
Referring to the latest developments in Iraq, he said he believes 
the Iraqi crisis can only be settled "through a change in approach of 
the occupiers and respect for the culture and values of the Iraqi 
nation." 
The South Korean minister, for his part, highlighted the 
importance his country attaches to relations with Iran, and said 
promoting political and economic ties with the Islamic Republic is a 
policy being pursued by the government. 
Foreign Minister Ban voiced Korea`s determination to increase its 
investments in the fields of energy, joint ventures and promotion of 
trade exchanges between the two countries and, toward this end, he 
said it is following up implementation of agreements on investment 
approved by the two parliaments as well as continuing talks to end 
barriers to mutual trade such as double taxation with Iranian 
officials. 
He also briefed his Iranian counterpart on talks between South 
and North Korea and the reasons for sending forces to the US-led 
coalition force in Iraq, and stressed that negotiations with Pyong 
Yang have led to further stability and security in the region. 
He said Korean forces are in Iraq to assist the Iraqi people 
and accelerate the transfer of power to its people. 
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, heading a high-ranking 
delegation, arrived in South Korea on Monday for a two-day official 
visit. 
Kharrazi`s visit is taking place at the invitation of his South 
Korean counterpart. 
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