Tehran, June 11, IRNA -- Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Foreign Affairs Louis Michel and Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal        
Kharrazi here on Tuesday held talks on ways to develop bilateral,     
regional and international cooperation.                               
    Michel called Iran as a key source of stability and strength in   
the region and stressed ''on Brussels unwavering resolve for expansion
of bilateral ties with Iran in all areas.''                           
    Michel lauded Iran's diplomatic, economic and social development  
and welcomed exchange of views between the two countries for reaching 
a common understanding between the two countries.                     
    The European-Iranian relations is in line with their long-term    
interest, he said, adding that the European Unions (EU) is interested 
in expansion of economic and trade ties with Iran.                    
    Kharrazi referred the 170 years of ties between the two nations   
and emphasized the need to boost bilateral ties.                      
    He said that Iran welcomes bolstering cooperation with the EU and 
Belgium in particular.                                                
    He further stressed expansion of trade and industrial ties between
the two countries' private sectors.                                   
    Kharrazi also alluded to the recent trip by the Belgian           
parliamentary speaker to Tehran and called for more parliamentary,    
cultural and tourism cooperation between the two nations.             
    On Palestine, he expressed concern about Israeli atrocities       
against the Palestinian people and urged the Europeans to wade-in to  
find solutions to the Middle East crisis and restoration of the       
Palestinian nation's rights.                                          
    They also discussed other regional developments, including        
Afghanistan and stressed on the need for calm between India and       
Pakistan. Kharrazi also briefed his Belgian counterpart on Iran's     
peace efforts in the Indian sub-continent.                            
    Michel arrived here Tuesday morning for a two-day visit to discuss
trade between Iran and the European Union.                            
    Upon arrival at the Mehrabad International Airport, he told       
reporters that he is "very optimistic" about a trade agreement which  
Iran and the European Union are intending to sign.                    
    The European Union is seeking to expand its ties with Iran in     
line with the policy of 'dialogue among civilizations' announced as an
international theme in 2001 by the United Nations on President        
Mohammad Khatami's initiative, he added.                              
    Belgium attaches high importance to Iran in its foreign policy    
and is determined to expand its ties with the Islamic Republic in all 
economic, political, regional and international fields, Michel said.  
    Michel will leave Tehran on Thursday for Georgia.                 
NB/SS/AR                                                              
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