MP: Iran Advocates Mideast Freedom From Nuclear Arms

Tehran, Oct 9, IRNA – Head of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said on Tuesday that Iran advocates Middle East freedom from nuclear arms. Speaking to Swiss Deputy Foreign Minister Yves Rossier, Boroujerdi said Iran supports the international endeavor to rid the Middle East of the nuclear arms and that the Israeli regime should be disarmed of nuclear weapons. Sharing common stance and having relations based on mutual respect have provided abundant capacity for expansion of regional and international cooperation between Iran and Switzerland. Boroujerdi called for utilizing the capacities which would serve to promote bilateral relations. As for the Syrian crisis, Boroujerdi said the Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes Syrian accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention. He said the arming of terrorist groups and support of certain international powers and of regional states for activities of the extremist groups in Syria are causes of terrorism and bloodshed in Syria. “Only through talks and negotiation among Syrian groups and government the ongoing crisis would end,” he suggested. As for the peaceful nature of Iran nuclear activities, he said regarding many dangers and harmful and destructive consequences of using nuclear arms, the Islamic Republic of Iran advocates materialization of the idea of nuclear free Middle East. He hailed the courageous move taken by the Syrian government to put its chemical weapons at disposal of the international community, Boroujerdi said that the Israeli regime should be disarmed of nuclear weapons. The Swiss official for his part said alike Iran, Switzerland supports the international campaign against terrorism. “The most important issue in this connection is investigating causes of terrorism and ways to prevent escalation of violence.” He said the Swiss government believes that the Geneva 2 Conference can play a considerable role for settlement of the Syrian issue and negotiations by both parties while letting Syrians to decide their own fate. Meanwhile, Boroujerdi met Clemens von Gotze, head of the German Federal Foreign Office (FFO) Political Department on Tuesday discussing ways of expanding mutual cooperation. “The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes expansion of relations with the European countries.”/end