Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran - London
In The Name Of God, The Compassionate, The Merciful
Speech by Dr. Kharrazi in Asia House
Official visit of His Excellency Dr Kamal Kharrazi to the Unite Kingdom
Dr Kamal Kharrazi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, arrived in London on Monday 10th January 2000 on an official visit to the United Kingdom at the invitation of the British Government. During his visit, Dr Kharrazi met with The Rt Hon Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street, where they discussed and exchanged views on various matters concerning relations between Iran and Britain. Their meeting lasted 40 minutes. Dr Kharrazi also held two rounds of talks with The Rt Hon Robin Cook, MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and took part in a joint press conference. At a dinner given by Mr Cook in honour of Dr Kharrazi, the two sides also discussed regional and international issues. The Iranian Foreign Minister also held talks with members of the House of Commons Foreign Relations Committee on the developments in bilateral relations and on important regional and international subjects. He also met with members of Iran-Britain Inter-Parliamentary Group.
On the sidelines of this visit, the Iranian Foreign Minister met with Muslim scholars and clerics based in Britain, members of the Muslim Parliament of Great Britain and a group of Iranian students. At The Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, the Foreign Minister delivered a speech outlining the viewpoints of the Islamic Republic of Iran on a desirable world order and Iran's foreign policy. Dr Kharrazi also gave a talk, and answered questions, at a gathering of about seventy British industrialists and economic experts, among them such well-known figures as Douglas Hurd, former Foreign Secretary, Lord Owen, ex-Foreign Secretary and Lord Lamont, former Chancellor of the Exchequer. Later, Dr Kharrazi took part in a reception organized by a number of Iranian businessmen at the Grosvenor House Hotel where he addressed a group of some 120 Iranian businessmen and answered their questions.
On the second day of Dr Kharrazi's visit to the United Kingdom, a joint statement was signed by the two ministers at the office of the British Foreign Secretary. In this joint statement, the two sides referred to the two countries' political will to continue and expand bilateral relations, declared their position on international problems and challenges and determined a framework for cooperation between the two countries.
In this statement, the two sides also stressed the need to combat all forms of terrorism, and exchanged views on the question of human rights while respecting the cultural identity of the two nations. They also emphasized the importance of the idea of dialogue among civilizations on the threshold of the third millennium.
Dr Kharrazi's visit to the United Kingdom was the first official visit to this country at this level since the victory of the Islamic Revolution. Dubbed as a historic visit representing a turning point in relations between the two countries, it was given extensive coverage by the domestic and foreign media.