����TEHRAN, June 21 (Xinhuanet, by Jiang Xiaofeng) -- A recent landmark
decision by the European Union (EU) to develop ties with Iran, a move seen
as incompatible with the demand by the United States, marks a major
breakthrough in Iran-EU relations.
����The EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg reached a political
agreement Monday to negotiate closer trade and political ties with Iran, a
country on the U.S. list of "axis of evil."
����The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, was authorized to
open negotiations with Tehran as soon as the EU adopts a mandatelinking
trade and cooperation to a political dialogue and counter-terrorism in
July.
����The development is being viewed as a highlight in EU-Iran
relations, which have achieved eye-catching improvements in recent years.
����A New High on Iran-EU Relations
����EU foreign ministers in May failed to agree to give the
EuropeanCommission a green light to start negotiating the trade and
cooperation agreement with Tehran.
����However, Monday's historic move came as a turning-point: the bloc
for the first time officially adopted the idea of enhancing ties between
the bloc and Iran, broadening prospects for cooperation in trade, economic
and political affairs.
����Considering the detente policy of the Islamic republic, the
European states have expressed a keen desire for the expansion of ties
with Tehran based on mutual respect and interests.
����It has been actually pursuing comprehensive ties with Iran, which
has an important role to play in solving regional and international
issues.
����European officials have been engaged in a flurry of diplomacy
inTehran since last year, trying to bring closer ties or coordinate
stances on issues of common interest.
����In May and June, the foreign ministers of Luxembourg and
Belgiumvisited Tehran. Iran's President Mohammad Khatami, who has visited
five EU countries during his term of office, is expected in Belgiumsoon.
����The EU, Iran's largest trading partner, believes that trade
withIran has enormous potential, especially in the field of energy, as
Iran is rich in natural resources.
����Iran is endowed with 10 percent and 16 percent respectively of the
world's oil and natural gas reserves. Better relations with Iran would
guarantee a constant and stable supply of energy for theEU economy.
����Statistics show that oil products made up nearly 80 percent of the
EU's 8.4 billion euros (7.4 billion U.S. dollars) worth of imports from
Iran in 2000.
����To Pursue Iran-EU Ties Regardless of What "Third Parties Think"
����Desire for boosting ties with the EU gained huge momentum after
Washington put Iran on its blacklist of "axis of evil."
����Reformists in the Iranian parliament urged the government not
toblow the chance to improve ties with the EU, which has shown increasing
difference from its U.S. ally.
����Lawmaker Jafar Golbaz told Iran News on Thursday that the Iranian
government should immediately dispatch delegations to Europe to
demonstrate Iran's appreciation of the EU's clear break from the U.S.
policy.
����Mohammad Saidi, another reformist parliament deputy, said such
opportunities in the international arena do not last forever, adding the
EU's decision proved that the bloc is not willing to coordinate each step
with the United States.
����The EU Commission's call for a fast-track agreement with Iran,
however, raised concern in Washington.
����"We'll continue to consult closely with European officials
regarding Iran policy and would have to look at, of course, any actual
business developments in term of U.S. law," U.S. State Department
spokesman Richard Boucher told a news briefing.
����Speaking in an intransigent manner, Iranian government
spokesmanAbdollah Ramezanzadeh said on Wednesday that Tehran and the EU
are looking to expand ties, regardless of what "third parties might
think."
����"Iran's relations with the European Union, from the point of view
of both sides, are advancing in a positive way," he added, noting that
"differences of opinion" could be resolved through negotiation. Enditem
����
