In an indication of fostering relations between Iran and Europe, French National Assembly President Claude Bartolone arrived in Tehran on Sept 6 to blow fresh air into Tehran-Paris relations, economic ties in particular.
While in Iran Bartolone held separate talks with several high-ranking Iranian officials including Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, President Hassan Rouhani, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Special Aide to Parliament Speaker for International Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Head of the Center for Strategic Studies affiliated to the Expediency Council Ali Akbar Velayati, Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Chief Valiollah Seif and a number of local officials in Isfahan.
Political Cooperation
Iran believes that European countries must play more active role in settlement of political crisis in Syria and strongly rejected the dichotomization of terrorism into good and bad forms anywhere in the world.
Talking to Bartolone, Zarif underscored that the threat of terrorism is a global threat and Tehran believes in the international community’s more serious cooperation to remove this common threat, voicing Tehran's readiness to hold more consultations with Europeans, particularly France, about the crisis in Syria.
Iranian diplomat also added Tehran considers Paris as an “important partner in its economic relations”, reiterating that the two sides have common views on many regional issues.
Bartolone also said France attaches great importance to the full implementation of the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), between Iran and the 5+1 group of countries.
The French official noted that the JCPOA has opened up positive opportunities in Iran’s ties with other countries, saying that several European and French banks have started cooperation with Iran.
In a meeting with Bartolone, President Rouhani called for coordinated and collective campaign against terrorism, adding there is no doubt that terrorism is a big danger for the regional countries and the entire world.
Rouhani said that as a victim of terrorism, the Islamic Republic of Iran is well aware of the magnitude of the threat of the dirty phenomenon and at the same time, France has well understood the momentous issue due to terrorist attacks over the past several months.
He said that the Islamic Republic of Iran helps the Iraqi and Syrian governments on their own demand to fight terrorism.
Parliamentary Cooperation
In a meeting with Larijani, the two called for expansion of parliamentary relations between Tehran and Paris and discussed regional and international developments.
Speaking at a joint press briefing after the meeting, Larijani lauded the parliamentary ties between the two countries and described Tehran-Paris relations as “good and age-old,” saying that the two countries share common views concerning the fight against terrorism and the resolution of current crises in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and other countries.
Iranian parliament speaker also cited Bartolone’s trip to Iran as a "new page" in fostering bilateral cooperation.
Commenting his talks with Larijani, Bartolone said the meeting has created suitable grounds to discuss issues of mutual interest, stressing that expansion of parliamentary relations would also help broaden ties between the two governments.
Economic Cooperation
Talking to Seif, Bartolone called for improvement of banking cooperation with Iran, adding France supports Iran to execute the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
FATF is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering.
Bartolone believes that Paris would help Tehran technically for implementation of the FATF by providing Iran with France experiences to this end.
He also called for the boost of economic ties between the two countries, adding that Paris is committed to help complete implementation of JCPOA.
According to Seif, Italian, Austrian and German banks have developed cooperation with Iran in the post-sanctions era but France banking system is very cautious about improving bilateral relations with its Iranian counterparts.
France can help resolve the problem of obstacles on the way of Iran's banking relations with other countries regarding Paris significant place among the European states, Seif stressed.
However, the implementation of JCPOA has led to more economic and political cooperation with the outside world to bring about prosperity and welfare for the nation.
So, a favorite opportunity has been available for the European states to develop economic cooperation in light of the international understanding created between Iran and the European nations following the nuclear accord.
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