BRUSSELS -- The upcoming visit of
Belgian deputy prime minister and Foreign Minister Louis Michel to
Iran will further expand and boost Belgian-Iranian ties, a top
Belgian Foreign Ministry official told IRNA here Thursday.
"The visit will further intensify our bilateral relations.
Moreover, Belgium is actively supporting the EU's comprehensive
dialogue with Iran," Koen Vervaeke, the official spokesman of the
Belgian Foreign Ministry, told IRNA.
Michel's official visit to Tehran from June 10-13 will be the
first by a Belgian foreign minister in ten years on a bilateral
level.
He visited Tehran as part of EU troika in the aftermath of the
September 11 attacks in the U.S. "It is quite an important visit to
Iran," said Vervaeke, adding that the Belgian minister will hold a
series of meetings with top Iranian officials.
Earlier, Vervaeke told a weekly press briefing Wednesday that
Michel will meet President Mohammad Khatami, Foreign Minister Kamal
Kharrazi and Majlis (Parliament) Speaker Mahdi Karrubi and discuss
bilateral ties and international issues.
Belgian-Iranian commercial transactions are remarkable. Belgian
exports to Iran are valued at around 283 million dollars annually,
while Iran is the second-largest exporter of oil from the Middle
East to Belgium.
Vervaeke said Belgium supports Iran's candidacy for membership in
the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Relations between Tehran and Brussels are witnessing a gradual
expansion.
Belgian Parliament President Hermann de Croo visited Tehran last
December to boost bilateral parliamentary relations. a number of
Iranian officials have visited Belgian in recent months.
Belgian Mminister of Employment, Laurette Onckelinx, is expected
to visit Tehran in July.
Last month, Belgium and Iran signed a customs cooperation
agreement, while the two countries are currently negotiating a
bilateral agreement on investment.
Belgian-Iranian talks during Michel's visit will also cover
consular aspects, such as readmission of refugees.
On international issues, Belgium has taken note of Iran's
contribution in the fight against global terrorism and in the
reconstruction of Afghanistan.
