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Nuclear agreement with EU a model for engaging Iran: FM official

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Madrid, Nov 25, IRNA -- Deputy Foreign Minister for research said 
here Wednesday that the recent negotiations between Iran and the EU on
the former`s nuclear program can be a model for conduct with Iran. 
Speaking at the `Second Seminar of Iran and Spain` in Madrid 
Ali-Reza Moayyeri said that the recent Iran-EU negotiations are 
indicative of the fact that engaging Iran should be based on mutual 
respect and on an equal footing. 
"Europe occupies an important place in the Iran`s foreign policy. 
We believe that cooperation between Iran, as a source of vibrant 
Islamic civilization and European countries as hub of Western culture 
can fetch benefits for both parties," said Moayyeri 
"Iran`s foreign policy is predicated on two principals of dialogue
based on mutual respect and confidence building," he added. 
Iran in its policy of `coalition for peace` believes that 
establishing peace and stability in this complicated world calls for 
refraining from policies which stir tension as well as showing respect
for views, opinions and values of different societies, Moayyeri said. 
Otherwise in lack of internationally-laced cultural dialogue, 
aggressive and hegemonic behavior will become the norm and they will 
in turn endanger the coexistence of eclectic ideas and views, the 
deputy foreign minister added. 
"In the international community Iran strives to establish 
cooperation within the UN framework and based on mutli-polarity of 
views." 
Elsewhere in his statements, he alluded to the cordial economic 
and political ties between Madrid and Tehran, "which can be a model 
for other European countries with Tehran." 
He referred to the signing of the dlrs four billion joint venture 
between Spanish firm `Repsol` and the Anglo-Dutch giant `Shell` oil 
companies with Iran. 
Higher economic and trade ties, expansion of banking credit, 
rising exports guarantees, insurance coverage and participation by the
Spanish companies in Iran`s South Pars Gas Field are all tokens of 
interest that the two nations have exhibited in improving bilateral 
economic relations. 
Meanwhile, another two-day conference on `Investment Opportunities
in Iran` kicked off on Monday in the city of Zaragoza, northern Spain.
Some 200 representatives from well-known companies along with 
governmental officials are attending the conference to study expansion
of mutual cooperation in investment, banking, industry, mining, 
agriculture, fisheries, transportation and tourism fields. 
Spain`s Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Jose Montilla 
delivered the opening address at the conference and said Spain is to 
broaden all-out ties with Tehran and underlined that his country 
regards its relations with Iran as `important`. 
Vice-President and Head of Iran`s Cultural Heritage and Tourism 
Organization Hossein Mar`ashi is heading the Iranian delegation to 
the conference. 
Four working groups on `Petrochemistry, Oil and Gas`, `Trade and 
Commerce`, `Industry, Transportation, Agriculture and Tourism`, 
`Monetary, Finance and Investment` are to review expansion of mutual 
cooperation at the conference. 
Level of trade exchanges between Iran and Spain stood at dlrs 1.40
billion in last year and this figure is expected to hit dlrs 4 billion
in a short period. 
Iran`s exports to Spain mostly consist of oil, raw material, 
carpets, fisheries and agricultural products while Spain`s export to 
Iran consisted of electrical appliances, road construction and mining 
equipment. 
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