Iran has cancelled a meeting with European Union representatives in Paris this week in a row over protocol with host country France, a diplomatic source said Sunday.
Iran was miffed because France, current holder of the EU's rotating presidency, was sending only a senior civil servant, a deputy secretary general in the foreign ministry.
Tehran, for its part, had named its deputy minister with responsibility for European affairs, and complained that Paris's representation was not high enough.
The French source stressed, however, that the civil servant was competent to deal with all international questions.
Iran has meetings every six months with the current head of the EU, the next head, in this case Sweden, and officials of the European commission to exchange views on bilateral and international matters.
Iran's foreign ministry said on November 22 that relations between the two sides were positive and beneficial for both -- TEHRAN (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
