The forthcoming visit of Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel to Iran will further expand and strengthen Belgian-Iranian relations, a senior Belgian Foreign Ministry official said Wednesday.
He told the Islamic Republic News Agency that, ''The visit will further intensify our bilateral relations”.
In addition, “Belgium is very actively supporting the EU's comprehensive dialogue with Iran,'' Cohen Vervaeke, the official spokesman of the Belgian Foreign Ministry, told IRNA.
Michel's official visit to Iran, scheduled to take place on June 10-13 will mark the first visit in a decade to take place by a Belgian foreign minister on the bilateral level.
He visited Tehran as part of the EU Troika following the September 11 attacks.
Michel is scheduled to meet with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, foreign minister Kamal Kharrazi and Majlis (Parliament) Speaker Mehdi Karroubi and is expected to discuss bilateral ties as well as international affairs.
Belgian-Iranian discussions during Michel's visit will also deal with consular aspects, such as the readmission of refugees. ''Belgium does not believe in isolating Iran, … on the contrary, to integrate Iran in the international community,'' the foreign ministry spokesman conveyed, according to IRNA.
Vervake said some difficult issues would also be raised during talks in Tehran, such as Iran's stance towards the Middle East peace process, human rights, democratization, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
