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Tehran, July 29, IRNA -- President Mohammad Khatami said here on Monday that expansion of relations with the European countries in all fields is among principled policies of Iran.
Khatami in a meeting with the European Union (EU) Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana recalled his talks with Solana in Vienna and former talks between Iran and the EU, saying that expansion of relations with Europe in various fields is among Tehran's principled policies.
He said Iranian officials believe that the relations would be to the interests of both sides.
Touching on Iran's abundant potential in different scenes, Khatami stressed making big efforts in the field of economy.
He said Tehran welcomes expansion of relations with the EU members so as to attain progress in the scientific, technological and commercial fields.
He referred to economic reforms in Iran, such as ratification of the law for attraction of foreign investment, amendment of the taxation law and the bill for campaign against money laundering.
He said given current realities, the government should address unemployment and care for economic, scientific and technological development in society.
The President said his government and Iranian nation are firm to establish the religious democracy. He called it as a process but not a project.
"We believe that defence of Islam would be possible just in the case we are able to present Islam as a religion being consistent with democracy and as the one which meets the principled freedoms of the public and guarantees the scientific and economic progress," said Khatami. The experience has just started in Iran, he added.
Referring to regional conditions and the US serious threats against Iraq, President Khatami said any intervention in Iraq would adversely affect the entire region.
He stressed that one should through other means force the Iraqi government to follow international will and implement the UN resolutions.
Iraq's stability, unity and territorial integrity is of importance for Iran, said Khatami, adding that Tehran believes that internal issues of countries should be entrusted to the nations themselves free from any foreign intervention.
He referred to Afghan events and expressed satisfaction with international consensus and cooperation to solve a big problem in the region.
Peace and stability in Afghanistan is highly vital for Iran's security and stability and all neighbors and the EU should try to end conflict and violence and ensure restoration of stability and reconstruction in favor of people there, he added.
Khatami also regretted deplorable conditions in the sensitive Middle East region and said the European Union should be more active in the field because any step taken in favour of real peace in line with the rights of the Palestinian people would favour the region.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Khatami called for dialogue between Islam and the West.
Iran as representative of the world of Islam can pioneer talks with the EU as representative of the western civilization beyond the domain of politics and not limited to a specific period of time, said Khatami.
Iran and the EU can through reliance on common points expand dialogue, which requires mutual respect.
Solana for his part said the EU took an important decision to expand commercial ties with Iran. He hoped that political relations between the EU and Iran would further expand.
He said while expanding its borders towards East, the EU is for establishing deeper relations with Tehran.
Solana stressed restoration of stability and tranquility in oday's complicated world for the sake of development and progress.
He added that situation in Afghanistan is improving but one should be watchful of peripheral issues.
Iraq does not recognize even a single UN resolution and one can not rely on observation of resolution by Iraq, he added.
The West is interested in dialogue with Islam and Iran's idea of dialogue among civilizations is a good ground to determine future.
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