Brussels, 04/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi is to meet, on 10 and 11 September in Brussels, the High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, and External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten. For his first visit to Belgium since the Islamic revolution in 1979, Mr Kharazi will also meet the Belgian Foreign Minister and President of the EU Council, Louis Michel. The main point on the agenda will be the draft cooperation agreement for which the Commission should present the mandate in "coming weeks", it was confirmed by Chris Patten's spokesman.
On Monday in Teheran, on the occasion of the visit by the European Troika headed by the Secretary General of the Belgian Foreign Ministry, Jan de Bock (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.4), "discussion covered the effective means to reach (economic agreements) and begin collaboration in the field of transport, the environment, agriculture, fisheries, sciences and research", said the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, cited by AFP in Teheran. Questions on the "human rights clause" systematically included in the cooperation agreements concluded by the EU and the clause concerning repatriation of illegal immigrants requested by several Member States could, however, make negotiations for a future agreement somewhat difficult. During its visit, the Troika suggested the creation of a working group on "Asylum and Immigration".
Europeans welcomed, moreover, the efforts made by Iran in the fight against drugs and a "working group" on drugs is expected to meet on 17 September in Brussels, states AFP. The EU also thanked Iran for its welcome to Afghan refugees. Teheran has requested aid from Europeans in this respect.