Deputy FM confers with Straw on expanding ties and Iraq

  
 

 

  
 

 
     
          London, Dec 19, IRNA -- Deputy Foreign Minister for Euro-American Affairs Ali Ahani here on Wednesday met and conferred with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on Tehran-London ties, as well as Iraq crisis developments.
        The two countries' foreign affairs officials expressed both sides' willingness to expand and deepen ties and to eliminate the existing obstacles in that respect.
        They also talked in details the latest developments in the course of the lingering Iraq crisis, including the recently held London conference of the Iraqi opposition groups.
        The British foreign secretary said he backs holding more intensive talks on broadening the range of bilateral cooperation with Tehran, particularly at international scenes.
        The Iranian deputy FM, too, expressed Tehran's readiness for expanding of ties and cooperation with London. 
        Ahani also met and conferred with the head and a number of members of the Iran-England Friendship Group at the British Parliament. 
        During the meeting on Wednesday evening, the two side sought for methods to expand parliamentary ties.
        At the end, the British MPs asked Ahani questions on Iran's stands on Iraq crisis, the situation in Afghanistan and certain other regional and international developments, such as the Mideast crisis and international terrorism.
        The deputy foreign minster for Euro-American affairs elaborated the Islamic Republic's stands on each issue.
        Ahani also had a separate meeting with Deputy British Foreign Secretary for Middle East and North Africa Affairs Mike O'Brien, during which the various aspects of the two countries' relations, as well as the Iraq crisis were discussed in details.
        Referring to the recent improvement in Tehran-London ties, and the intensive talks held for the purpose, Ahani said that they are barely enough keeping in mind the broad potentials and demands in both ends.
        He asked for joint efforts aimed at eliminating certain remaining obstacles and for further expansion of ties and cooperation.
        Stressing on the need for full complying of the Baghdad government in implementation of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441 and the trying to ease off the other sensitivities in the Mideast region, Ahani said it is necessary for the United Nations to monitor closely such developments and to seek for peaceful solutions to them.
        Turning to the Palestinian cause, Ahani said that finding a real solution for the Middle East crisis, too, calls for closer attention of the international community to the legitimate demands and denied rights of the Palestinian nation.
        "Lack of proper understanding of the nature of the problem in occupied Palestinian territories, and leaving the Israeli side free handed to oppress the Palestinians and to keep occupying their lands is the greatest obstacle in the way of achieving a lasting peace in the Middle East," he said.
        O'Brien, too, during the meeting said he believes the process of improving the Tehran-London ties is promising and on the right path.
        He also elaborated on efforts made by the British administration aimed at eliminating the existing obstacles. 
        On Iraq crisis, the British deputy foreign secretary said that his country's policy is full implementation of the U.N. Security Council resolutions. He said that the annihilation of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction is the main objective, and the British government favors achieving that goal through peaceful means.
        Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi and the new British Ambassador to Tehran Richard Dalton, too, had in a meeting on Monday discussed the Tehran-London bilateral ties in all areas.
        Dalton in the meeting submitted his credentials to Kharrazi and expressed pleasure over the pace of progress in the Tehran-London relations.
        He said he would try his utmost to contribute to the growing ties between the two countries in all spheres.
        He termed Iran as "a big country with very ancient civilization and culture" and said Iran's strategic location and its key role in the regional and international issues is pretty clear for everyone.
        He hoped that the two sides try to improve ties based on the principle of mutual respect.
        Kharrazi commented on the numerous and great potentials in both countries of which the Iranian and British officials could profit to strengthen the bilateral relations.
        He hoped that the Tehran-London ties would improve in all political, economic and trade areas in virtue of exchange of delegations and continuation of consultations.
        Press reports said the appointment of a new British ambassador to Iran ended a row between Tehran and London that began over a year ago when the Islamic Republic rejected the choice of David Reddaway as the UK's top envoy to Iran.
        Bilateral Tehran-London ties have not always been tension-free or on the best of terms in post-revolutionary Iran, the English Language daily 'Iran News' said previously in its editorial.
        The daily however stressed that with the appointment of Richard Dalton as the new British Ambassador to Tehran, it proves that the roots of ties between the two countries is inherently strong and that the Reddaway episode did not inflict permanent damage on British-Iran relations.
        The daily's comments came as President Mohammad Khatami stressed the Tehran-London ties would be boosted with the beginning of the new British ambassador's work in Iran based on mutual respect.

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