Luxembourg, 17/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - In Luxembourg on Monday the General Affairs Council managed to reach political agreement on a mandate for negotiating with Iran which will be formally adopted at the next General Affairs Council in July. The agreement covers the negotiations and parallel coming into force of a trade and co-operation agreement and a declaration on political dialogue. It also covers an agreement in the form of an exchange of letters on combating terrorism. The Council invited the European Commission to launch negotiations as soon as the mandate has been formally adopted.
In the adopted conclusions, the Council calls on Iran to promote and protect human rights and basic freedoms by, for example, ratifying international instruments and reforming its legal system. The EU encourages Iran to sign, ratify and implement international non-proliferation agreements. In terms of the Middle East situation, the EU calls on Iran to join the international consensus about the need for a two state solution, Palestine and Israel, living together peacefully within safe and recognised borders.
EUROPE will return tomorrow to discussions that were going ahead as we went to press concerning the Seville Summit (enlargement, direct aid for farmers, the Middle East, etc).