Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Kamal Kharrazi and European Union (EU) Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten held talks in Brussels on Tuesday evening that dealt with bilateral relations as well as various regional issues.
Patten's spokeswoman, Emma Udwin, told the official IRNA news agency that it was a "good meeting and it covered a lot of ground." "It was rather a frank, good and open exchange between partners," the spokeswoman added.
For their part, Iranian diplomatic sources described the talks held as "very constructive, good and successful for the future of EU-Iran relations."
The Iranian Foreign Minister extended an invitation to Patten to visit Tehran, which, according to IRNA, was accepted by the EU commissioner.
The two sides, in addition, stressed that the launch of EU-Iran negotiations on a trade and cooperation agreement as well as political dialogue in December was a very important initiative, Udwin said.
Patten and Kharrazi discussed the situation in Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine as well as human rights in the Islamic republic of Iran.
Moreover, they welcomed the acceptance by Baghdad of UN Security Council Resolution 1441 to allow arms inspectors back into the country.
Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi is set to travel to Germany on Wednesday for talks on the Middle East conflict with his German counterpart Joschka Fischer, the German foreign ministry said, cited by AFP.
Kharazi, who last visited Berlin in February, is also set to meet the speaker of the Bundestag lower house of parliament, the ministry said on Tuesday. (Albawaba.com)
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