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Tehran, Oct 19, IRNA -- Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for the Legal and International Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif and European Union Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten in a meeting in Brussels Friday discussed the latest regional and international developments in particular the crisis in Afghanistan.
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The two sides also exchanged views on how best they could expand the Iran-EU relations and the pace of progress in the bilateral ties.
Patten underlined the profound interest of the EU countries and called for improved ties between Iran and the European Union.
He praised Iran's move to swiftly condemn the hijacking suicide attacks against New York and Washington and called for a concerted effort on part of the international community to combat terrorism.
He called for a broad-based government in Afghanistan with the Participation of representative from all the Afghan ethnic groups in it.
Patten further said the terrorist actions by Osama Bin Laden were meant to spark a clash of civilizations and stressed effective measures to prevent any action that would turn the dialogue of civilizations into a clash of civilizations or religions.
He welcomed a proposal set forth by President Seyed Mohammad Khatami on organizing of a meeting with the participation of the prominent Western and Islamic scholars and intellectuals to promote the dialogue of religions and civilizations.
Patten further said military action against the defenseless peopleof Afghanistan is not a proper way of fighting against terrorism.
In the meeting, Zarif blamed the Israeli Zionists who tried to link the September 11 terrorist acts against the United States with the Muslims. He commented on the hardships facing the Afghan civilians and called for humanitarian aid for the Afghans refugees.
The two sides further discussed a process to sign economic and trade ties between Iran and the EU.
In separate meetings with his Belgian counterpart Jan De Boch and Head of the European Parliament Ms. Nicole Fonte in Brussels, Zarif discussed the Iran-EU ties as well as the crisis in Afghanistan.
As for the Afghan crisis, Zarif stressed Iran's firm resolve to condemn and fight terrorism while calling for international measures to move toward establishment of the world sense of security and peace.
Iran does not take part in the U.S- led coalition that launches attacks on Afghanistan but it said it would provide help for the Afghan refugees that move from their residences in Afghanistan for fear of the attacks.
The U.S.-led attacks on Afghanistan has led to a huge number of refugees in the war-torn country. Large number of Afghan refugees are seeking refuge in Iran that has sealed off its borders with Afghanistan.
Afghanistan is on its second week of aerial bombardment by U.S. and British forces in retaliation for the United States suicidal attacks on September 11 and for failing to surrender Osama bin Laden, the U.S.' prime suspect in the attacks.
UN officials have said the number of Afghan refugees could swell to 7.5 million in the coming days, up from the 3.7 million reported tobe already settled in Pakistan and Iran as well as other countries.
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