Mr. Zarif is in Belgium for mainly political meetings in European Parliament and has met a number of Belgian officials including Mr. Didier Randers his counterpart. Zarif emphasized that all should cooperate to end the war through finding a political solution to the crisis in Syria, and that humanitarian aid to Syrians was crucial in this venue; on bilateral relations, foreign minister told reporters that Iran and Belgium had enjoyed positive diplomatic history and both sides should focus on matters of mutual interest and common threats, especially extremism especially in Afghanistan, ISIL and Al-Nusra Front in Syria, the Yemeni situation, which bordered the disaster.
“Now in Yemen, civilians and military are equally targeted and killed; in all these, political solutions should be sought along with humanitarian aid,” said Mr. Zarif. “On mutual relations, we discussed technology transfer from Belgian industries to Iran and trade and economy; we had similar positions on the issue of migrant crisis; we also discussed human rights issues, organized crime, and drug cartels,” he added.
On a question of whether Iran would provide help in finding whereabouts of US citizen Robert Levinson, former CIA operative which had been reportedly lost in Kish Island of Iran, Zarif said that Iran’s position in release of US citizens, prisoners in Iran was out of care for fellow human feelings. About Saudi possible deployment of military forces in Syria, Zarif believed that more military in Syria was dangerous and all sides should avoid escalation of already hostile environment in the country to join efforts to find peace.
Zarif told the reporter who asked him about upcoming Parliament elections that the public will was respected in a country where pluralism was cherished; “this is public who is a major decision-maker in the elections and the ballot boxes will reflect the plebiscite’s will,” he added.
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