Germany more logical than other EU countries: Iranian ambassador

TEHRAN, Jan. 4 (MNA) - In matters related to sanctions against Iran, Germany is “more logical” in comparison to the other European countries, Iran's ambassador to Germany said. “In negotiations concerned with moves against Iran, Germany’s position is more logical in comparison to other European countries and the country” prefers “dialogue over hostile moves,” Sheikh-Attar told . As a member of the EU, Germany has to abide by the economic sanctions adopted against Iran by the bloc, however, in the negotiations the Germans are more logical than other countries, the ambassador said when asked if Germany intensifies or modifies sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Sheikh-Attar said Iran and Germany have long-established relations, however the quality of this relationship is under the influence of decisions taken against Iran by the European Union, which Germany is a leading member, and also relations between Germany and the U.S. as two transatlantic allies. He went on to say that Iran and Germany have diplomatic contacts at the highest level and the two countries’ foreign ministers hold meetings and negotiate over regional issues such as the Afghanistan crisis and the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa. On Germany's stance toward the crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Bahrain, the ambassador said Germany is concerned about the violation of human rights in the Arab sheikdom. Elsewhere in his remarks he criticized the publication of a photograph in Iran's media in which Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi was laughing and his German counterpart, Guido Westerwelle, was frowning. "Those who published this photograph are either novice and inexperienced or they don't know the procedure of diplomatic visits," the diplomat said, adding that in these visits officials begin the meeting with greeting and recalling happy past memories.