The European Parliament said Saturday that a delegation was set to visit Iran next week, one month after the European Union (EU) decided to open trade and cooperation talks with the Islamic republic.
The delegation is expected to meet with President Mohammad Khatami, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi and parliament speaker Mehdi Karoubi during the visit from July 16 to July 21, according to AFP.
EU foreign ministers agreed in mid-June to open talks with Tehran on a trade and cooperation agreement that would also include a political annex, in spite of United States calls to avoid contact with a country it has labeled part of an "axis of evil" along with Iraq and North Korea.
The European Parliament said the visit was at the invitation of Iran's largely reformist parliament, following the EU parliament's decision to "reinforce dialogue and future relations" with the country.
In the course of their visit, European MPs are also planning to meet with local officials in the northwestern town of Tabriz and its refugee camp.
The European Union is Tehran's main trade partner, importing goods from Iran worth 8.4 billion euros (eight billion dollars) in the year 2000, while exports totaled 5.2 billion euros, according to EU statistics. (albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
