Iran-EU Improved Ties Benefit Both Sides

Tehran, March 11, IRNA – An immediate improvement of relations between Iran and the European Union will benefit both sides, the head of Iranian National Center for Globalization Studies said on Monday. Alireza Moayyeri made the remarks in a meeting in Tehran with a number of members of European Council on Foreign relations (ECFR). Moayyeri said that Iran attaches special significance to promotion of ties with the European Union. He expressed hope that as the talks between Iran and the Western governments over Iranian nuclear program have made a breakthrough, the black era of reduced Iran-EU relations would come to an end, leading to a new chapter of bilateral ties. Moayyeri said that in presidential elections on June 14, the Iranians voted for Hassan Rouhani who was the symbol of moderation and he gave improvement of relations with the outside world a priority for his administration. Referring to last September proposal at the United Nations General Assembly by President Rouhani on global campaign against violence and extremism, which was unanimously approved in the UN General Assembly, Moayyeri said that the world is grappling with violence and extremism and collective resolve and determination of the international community is required to guarantee sustainable peace and security. He said that Iranian National Center for Globalization Studies is ready to cooperate with the European think-tanks. Elsewhere in his remarks, Moayyeri called for more cooperation between Iran and the European Union to counter organized crimes, terrorism and drug trafficking which he said have increased as a result of globalization. The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) is the first pan-European think tank. Launched in October 2007, its objective is to conduct research studies and promote informed debate across Europe on the development of coherent and effective European values based foreign policy./end