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Brussels, July 16, IRNA -- A European Parliament delegation begins a visit to Tehran Tuesday seen as a pragmatic European decision to improve and expand ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The visit of the MEPs led by the chairman of the foreign relations committee, Elmar Brok, is highly significant as it is the first ever by a EP delegation to the Islamic Republic.
Moreover, parliaments represent the peoples and thus the EP's visit is bound to enhance people-to-people contacts between Europe and Iran.
The aim of the landmark five-day visit is to promote parliamentary cooperation and boost the political dialogue between Iran and the EU.
It comes only a month after a landmark decision by the EU to begin negotiations with Iran on signing a cooperation and trade agreement that will pave the way for the expansion of EU-Iran economic and trade cooperation.
The absence of any contact between the EP and Iran during the last two decades was exploited by those opposing any EU-Iran engagement to create a distorted image of the Islamic Republic in the minds of many MEPs.
The current visit by the EP delegation is an opportunity to rectify that image and remove misunderstandings from both sides.
The EP attaches great importance to issues like human rights, democracy, campaign against terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, rule of the law and these issues are bound to be discussed between the two sides.
The MEPs are expected to raise their concern to Iranian officials over human rights, terrorism, and arms proliferation.
But Iran should seize the opportunity to voice the Muslim world's concerns about a number of issues to the MEPs.
The Islamic world is very concerned about the rise of xenophobia and right-extremism in Europe, the threat to rights of Muslims living in Europe, especially after the 11 September events, the possession of weapons of mass destruction by Israel with the support of some European countries, the double standards towards issues of human rights and fight against terrorism.
Nobody expects that the two sides will agree on all contentious issues, but the important thing is that a process of dialogue will lead to better understanding and respect of each other's views and positions.
EU officials have been underlining the big economic potential of Iran, its vital geo-strategic position and its important role in solving regional and international problems and the fight against international drug trafficking.
On its part, Iran seeks closer economic and political ties with the EU, its largest trading partner, and wants more European investments in the Islamic Republic.
Tehran appreciates Europe's pragmatic approach. Unlike the US which has branded Iran as part of the `axis of evil', Europe favours dialogue, engagement and cooperation.
Hence, the visit of the EP delegation to Iran is a win-win situation for both sides.
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