EU’s Ashton on Landmark Visit to Iran

 

      “The government of prudence and hope is determined, in the area of foreign policy, to have constructive interaction with the entire world, based on common interests and mutual respect.

 

      The government is “interested in establishing a new relationship with the European Union” which has many “common goals and interests.”

            “Your visit [to Iran] as the representative of the foreign policy of 28 European countries has a greater political connotation [than visits by individual country delegations].”

 

            “By passing the current stage [nuclear negotiations] properly,” Iran and the European Union will be able to discuss important strategic issues, such as establishing a “strategic relationship” in the areas of energy trade and the transit of goods.

 

            “We hope that we can take new and serious steps” using “the good atmosphere” that has been created in Iran-E.U. relations.”

 

 

            I have visited Iran to convey the “goodwill message” of the 28 member states of the European Union.

 

            For the first time, Iran and the European Union are discussing issues other than the nuclear dispute, which is a “start for expansion of cooperation.”

 

            “My presence shows that the European Union is willing, concurrent with nuclear negotiations, to have better, more effective, and more dynamic relations with Iran.”

            March 9, 2014 in a meeting with President Hassan Rouhani

 

 

      “The Islamic Republic of Iran has made great efforts to establish stability and peace in the region including in Afghanistan and Iraq and it is currently ready to continue good cooperation with the European Union to settle the Syria crisis.

 

      “There is no need for options such as military [approaches] and arming… extremists and terrorists; and only the country’s people should be given the chance to consolidate democracy… in Syria through a gradual and peaceful process.

 

 

      “Iran is determined to reach an agreement ... We have shown goodwill and we have done our side. Now it is up to the other party to show the same goodwill and determination.

 

      “With desire, commitment and willingness a comprehensive deal can be reached ... in four or five months.

      

      “But that requires recognition that Iran will only accept a solution that is respectful, that respects the rights of the Iranian people.

 

            “Iran finds it in its own interest to make sure that there are no ambiguities about Iran’s intentions, because we have no intention to seek nuclear weapons.”

            March 9, 2014 in a joint press conference with E.U. High Representative Ashton

 

 

            “Thank you Minister Zarif. You and I meet often now in the discussions on the nuclear issue, but this is as you rightly say the first occasion when we have met in the bilateral capacity of the High Representative of the European Union and the Foreign Minister of Iran. I want to say thank you for your invitation to come here and for your courtesy and a very useful and fruitful meeting.

 

            “As you have said, this was our opportunity to discuss issues of interest and concern to us in the region, to have an opportunity to talk about the terrible situation in Syria, to focus on areas of cooperation around the future of Afghanistan - especially we talked about the problems and challenges we face with the drugs trade - of course we raised the issue, as you have done with me, of the potential of our human rights dialogue in the future, and we talked about a way to move forward.

 

            “I consider it a really important occasion to be here in Iran and to have the opportunity to talk about these bilateral issues. And as you said, we also took a few moments to talk about issues concerning our next round of discussions in Vienna.

 

            “And I am very much looking forward to meeting with the President and with others whom I have not met yet, and to have a chance to talk with them as well on the basis of our bilateral discussions.

 

            “I came here yesterday on International Women’s day and I want to say too that it was a great privilege to meet with women from Iran, and to have the chance to celebrate with them International Women’s day and to talk about issues for women in Iran and in Europe, and indeed across the world. Thank you.

 

            “I think that [interim nuclear agreement] should give you a real indication of the approach that the international community wants to take. I want to commend Minister Zarif and his team for the work that they have done. I have been engaged in discussions with Iran for nearly four years and I think this interim agreement is really really important, but not as important as a comprehensive agreement that we are currently engaged in. Difficult, challenging, there is no guarantee it will succeed, but I think it’s very important with the support of the people of Iran for the work that is going on by the Minister and his team and with the support of the International Community for my work that we should aim to try and succeed.

 

      “The outcome of the nuclear talks is a big test for founding new relations with the union [European Union].”

 

      “Negotiations and dialogue based on logic, mutual respect and guaranteeing interests have always been the fundamental strategy of Iran, and within this framework, we are ready for constructive cooperation and interaction with different countries.”

 

      “The measures adopted by American officials under the pretext of [being under] pressure from the Zionists [Israelis] are not acceptable. Such actions by the Americans serve as an obstacle in the way of an international agreement between the P5+1 and the Islamic Republic [on the nuclear issue].”

            March 9, 2014 in a meeting with E.U. High Representative Ashton

 

 

 

            “The main purpose of the visit was to, as E.U. High Representative, have a chance to talk to Iran about the potential for the relationship that we can have in the future. Many European Union countries’ ministers are coming here. Many have historical links and this was about joining up the whole of the EU in thinking through the issues that we would want to discuss. Not surprisingly there was a big focus on human rights: I met with women activists on International Women’s Day and talked to them about the situation that women find themselves in and some of the work that these women are engaged in, from journalists to those involved with Afghan refugees, people working across the spectrum of civil society and the importance of civil society.

 

            “And then thinking about some of the issues in the region, for example the real challenges of the drug trade from Afghanistan. Iran faces real difficulties there. There are ways in which we could work together to try and address that. And then looking into the future, the possibilities of all sorts of dialogues and discussions; again an example would be the environment. So that sort of group of different issues, things we may be able to talk about now because they’re important to the European Union to do now, but most importantly things that could be, depending on what happens with the nuclear talks -inevitably that’s been a backdrop to the conversations I’ve had.

 

            “One of the things that’s been very clear is the support that is given across the political spectrum for the work that is going on currently in Vienna to try and move forward on a comprehensive [nuclear] agreement. That does not mean that we’ll get an agreement; it does not mean that people are committed to any possible outcome at this stage, but I have had a real sense that people are committed to wanting to see the talks happen and that, I think, is encouraging of itself.”

 

            “It’s also been for me interesting to see during the visit that people have wanted to talk across a spectrum of different issues and have been willing to meet with me and engage and that, I think, is important. Not surprisingly a number of issues in the region have been big focal points, but I’m at least encouraged that we’ve been able to talk frankly about some of these issues and I hope that if we are successful with the negotiations, and it’s a big if, that we’ll be able to start to move forward on a range of different issues with Iran.