Tehran, June 11, IRNA -- Visiting Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and   
Minister of Foreign Affairs Louis Michel in a meeting with Majlis     
Speaker Mehdi Karroubi here on Tuesday discussed ways of expanding    
mutual ties.                                                          
    At the meeting, Karroubi pointed out that the Islamic Republic of 
Iran is interested in promoting ties with European Union (EU) member  
states.                                                               
    He said Iran and Belgium share various capacities for expansion of
bilateral cooperation in all fields.                                  
    Referring to last year's visit to Iran of his Belgian counterpart 
as 'useful', he asked for an increase in the number of visits between 
top officials of the two countries.                                   
    Elsewhere in his remarks, Karroubi noted that reforms in Iran have
moved swiftly, pointing out that it is part of the Islamic            
Revolution's aims and public desire.                                  
    Pointing to the fact that parliaments play an effective role in   
democratic systems, Karroubi called for further promotion of mutual   
parliamentary cooperation, particularly at the international level.   
    Louis Michel, for his part, expressed satisfaction over his visit 
to Iran.                                                              
    He said Brussels attaches great importance to Iran's views on     
regional and international issues.                                    
    He reiterated that Iran is a good trade partner for the EU,       
Belgium in particular.                                                
    Both sides emphasized on the formation of parliamentary friendship
groups between the two countries.                                     
    Michel invited Karroubi to pay an official visit to Belgium which 
the Majlis speaker accepted.                                          
RM/AH                                                                 
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