President Rouhani received Belgian Senate President Ms. Christine Defraigne on Saturday morning to discuss terrorism, Middle East, bilateral trade, and a host of other issues. Ms. Defraigne is in a tour of Iran and had already visited other Iranian officials earlier last week.
Mr. Rouhani told the meeting that terrorism was to be addressed not through ‘bombing and retaliatory measures,’ but by ‘dialogue and diplomatic efforts,’ since to address terrorism was to address its roots, which President Rouhani strictly believed, had cultural and economic causes like frustration, inequality, poverty, and underrepresentation alongside political reasons.
President also touched possibilities of bilateral trade with Belgium; “Iran welcomes Belgian entrepreneurs and investors after implementation of JCPOA,” he added. Highlighting the roles played by Parliaments and legislative branches, Rouhani emphasized that parliamentary relations would help develop bilateral relations further.
He also hailed EU role in cementing JCPOA; “the deal provided a precedent according to which major global issues could be addressed diplomatically,” he told the meeting. “Current laws in underrepresented communities would not fulfil the public demands in parts of the world where terrorism finds conducive grounds for growth; the EU was aloof when Iraq and Afghanistan were grappling with terrorism. Now, the blazes of terrorism have reached EU borders. Paying only lip service would not serve fighting terrorism and double standards in dividing terrorism to bad and good would even confound the situations for all,” Rouhani asserted.
Rouhani believed that paths of logistics and financial aid to terrorists should be blockaded effectively to deprive them of resources on which they fed and nurture; “they now actively and freely provide the markets Iraqi and Syrian antiquities invaluable in terms of human heritage. This issue should be seriously addressed,” he said.
Ms. Defraigne for her part said that a new chapter of Iran-Belgium relations was on the horizon; “Brussels welcome working with Tehran in all fields of interest; we appreciate Iran’s role and contribution to fighting terrorism and will stand with Iran in its efforts,” she added.
SH/IRN 82055661