Tehran, June 12, IRNA -- Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel here   
Wednesday said that the European Union was against grouping Iran in   
the 'axis of evil' and instead seeks to strengthen relations with     
the Islamic Republic.                                                 
    "The European Union considers Iran as a key country in the region 
and believes in strengthening ties with it," he said in a meeting with
the Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) 
Hassan Rowhani.                                                       
    "Belgium believes that a trade agreement between Iran and the EU  
should be signed as soon as possible," Michel said, adding his visit  
to Iran was indicative of Brussel's full confidence to deepen         
relations with Tehran in all fields.                                  
    The EU differs with Washington over Iran, Michel said, adding the 
15-member block has reached 'political maturity and determines its    
policies independently'.                                              
    US President George W. Bush has branded Iran as part of an 'axis  
of evil' along with Iraq and North Korea in the context of America's  
self-styled anti-terror campaign, accusing the Islamic Republic of    
seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction.                       
    Michel ruled out military campaign and war as the way to fight    
terrorism, saying instead the rootcause of the pernicious phenomenon, 
such as inequality between the north and the south, must be stemmed.  
    He said the settlement of the Middle East crisis will play an     
effective role in putting an end to terrorism in the world as well as 
the region.                                                           
    The EU believes in the establishment of an independent Palestinian
state, Michel said.                                                   
    The Belgian foreign minister arrived here Tuesday morning for a   
two-day visit to discuss trade between Iran and the European Union.   
    Upon arrival at 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.                             
    Michel will leave Tehran on Thursday for Georgia.                 
    Rowhani, for his part, announced Iran's readiness for cooperation 
with the European Union, saying finalization of a trade agreement     
between the EU and Iran is 'a reciprocal and necessary step'.         
    The official welcomed foreign investment, including by the EU,    
in Iran, which he said, has taken a key step by finalizing a foreign  
investment law and unifying its currency.                             
    He cited detente according to mutual respect and non-interference 
in internal affairs of other countries as among key principles in     
the Islamic Republic's foreign policy.                                
    "Establishment of peace and security in the region as well as the 
world and a resolute and all-out fight against terrorism under the UN 
aegis are among the strategic policies of the SNSC," Rowhani said.    
    He criticized the EU for imposing restrictions on the export of   
vital technical know-how for peaceful means to the Islamic Republic.  
     "Iran has signed important conventions for non-proliferation of  
atomic, biological and chemical weapons and is ready to hold          
confidence-building talks with the EU in order to defuse mutual       
concerns," Rowhani said.                                              
    Iran's arms policy is totally defensive, he said, adding the      
Islamic Republic does not intend to use its military might against any
country.                                                              
    The secretary of the SNSC described certain countries' misuse     
of the 'anti-terror war' in order to strengthen their hegemony on     
the world as 'dangerous and against world peace and security'.        
    Rowhani called for fighting against terrorism by addressing       
injustice, improper distribution of wealth in the world and occupation
of lands by aggressive states.                                        
    He stressed 'the concern of over 1.2 billion Muslims over a       
systematic massacre of Palestinians by the Zionist regime' and said,  
"American President (George W. Bush's) defense of the Zionist regime's
crimes have increased the rage as well as the hatred of the Islamic   
world against the American government."                               
    Rowhani called for fundamental steps to guarantee the rights of   
Palestinians, by putting an end to Israeli occupation, return of all  
Palestinian refugees to their homes and establishing Beit-ul-Moqaddas 
as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.                   
BH/AH                                                                 
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