17/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - Ashton-Araghchi meeting. On 17 December, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton met Iran's Deputy Minister Abbas Araghchi in Brussels in order to review progress on the implementation of the joint action plan, Ashton's spokesperson stated. The spokesperson said that since the agreement of 24 November, Ashton has remained in “regular” contact with Iran's Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. On 16 December, the European foreign affairs ministers reaffirmed the EU's commitment to the full implementation of the joint action plan - including the suspension of sanctions - and to support the negotiation process (see EUROPE 10985). (CG/transl.fl)