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Tehran, Moscow stress closer ties, resolving nuclear issue

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Sept 25, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi met Saturday 
ith his Russian Counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the 59th
session of UN General Assembly in New York, the foreign ministry 
information and media department reported. 
The two officials discussed expansion of bilateral ties and Iran`s
nuclear program. 
Lavrov said Tehran-Moscow as two friendly countries have close 
cooperation. "Iran is an important country which has an important 
role in forging stability and security in the Middle East," the 
Russian foreign minister added. 
He further said Iran has the right to use peaceful nuclear 
technology and hopefully, the trend of cooperation between Iran and 
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will proceed smoothly and 
all outstanding problems will be resolved. 
Kharrazi said Tehran is interested in bolstering ties with Moscow.
"All of Iran`s activities are in the framework of to building 
confidence," he added. 
If only one of the parties takes steps then this cannot be 
considered as confidence building, Kharrazi said. 
"We have been adamant since the beginning of talks with European 
countries and the IAEA that Iran`s interests should be upheld." 
Iran is determined to remove all "side-issues" and is resolved to 
continue dialogue and cooperation with the international community to 
preserve its legitimate rights and render assurance that its peaceful 
nuclear activities would not be diverted to building nuclear weapons. 
Iran`s Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said here Thursday that 
Iran has had a transparent cooperation with the International Atomic 
Energy Agency (IAEA) aiming at building confidence. 
In a meeting with his German counterpart Joschka Fischer on the 
fringes of the 59th session of UN General Assembly, Kharrazi added 
Iran is determined to continue cooperation with the agency and 
settle remaining issues. 
"We believe confidence-building is a two-sided (measure) and 
Europe should take strides to make mutual confidence through 
committing its undertakings. 
"Ongoing concerns of the two sides should be removed and for this 
reason we persist on Iran`s absolute right to use nuclear energy 
peacefully," he said. 
Kharrazi underlined the importance of separating Iran`s 
voluntary measures from the country`s promises, saying "Suspension of 
uranium enrichment was a voluntary measure adopted by Iran and a 
voluntary measure, which is out of our legal undertakings, cannot be 
obliged." 
During the meeting, Kharrazi and Fischer discussed talks between 
Iran and the three European states - France, Germany and Britain - 
as well as the country`s cooperation with the IAEA. 
Fischer outlined various stance on Iran`s nuclear activities and 
the recent resolution adopted by IAEA`s Board of Governors and 
stressed settlement of remaining issues and strengthening of 
Iran-IAEA cooperation. 
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