EU Parliament seeks Iran Majlis ties

PressTV - EU Parliament seeks Iran Majlis ties

Chair of the European Parliament's Iran delegation Barbara Lochbihler has called for the expansion of ties with Iran and cooperation with Iran's Parliament (Majlis). In a meeting with the Spokesman for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iran's Parliament (Majlis), Kazem Jalali, the European Parliament official called for the expansion of economic ties with the Islamic Republic as a "stable country in the region," IRNA reported on Tuesday.

Jalali, who is in Germany on a three-day visit, briefed the European officials on Iran's stance toward the recent revolutions in North African and Arab countries. Jalali also recommended that Iran's Parliament and the European Parliament exchange views on important issues such as the latest developments in Afghanistan, Iraq, North Africa, as well as on counter-narcotic strategies, energy security, terrorism, and regional security.

 Lochbihler, who is also the representative of Germany's Green Party in the European Parliament, welcomed the proposal. On Saturday, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle met with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi in the Iranian capital city, Tehran, stressing the importance of promoting dialogue and cooperation with the Islamic Republic. The German minister also expressed his country's willingness to hold talks with Iran in the future, saying Berlin seeks ways to expand relations with Tehran on international issues.

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Moscow reaffirms Soviet recognition of Palestine - Yahoo! News

Moscow reaffirms Soviet recognition of Palestine - Yahoo! News: "JERICHO, West Bank (Reuters) – Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday Moscow had recognized an independent Palestinian state in 1988 and was not changing that position adopted by the former Soviet Union.

But on his first visit to the Israeli-occupied West Bank as Russian head of state, Medvedev stopped short of making a ringing declaration of recognition of Palestinian statehood by the Russian Federation that he represents.

Israel has been alarmed in the past two months by a string of recognitions by Latin American states including Brazil and Argentina which some analysts say could be a precursor to a move by the Palestinians to seek full United Nations membership.

At a news conference with Medvedev in Jericho, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said: 'We remember that Russia was one of the first states in the world to recognize the state of Palestine in 1988.'

Medvedev responded, saying: 'Russia made its choice a long time ago ...we supported and will support the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to an independent state with its capital in East Jerusalem.'

The Soviet Union recognized a Palestinian state in 1988, after it was declared by the late Yasser Arafat in a move that won broad support in the Communist bloc and Third World but had little real impact on diplomatic

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