Iran’s Speaker Calls on EU to Adopt Independent, Moderate Policy

(Tasnim) – Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani called on the European Union (EU) to help settle the problems facing the international community though adopting an independent and moderate policy.

“The miscalculations of certain countries in the region and across the world have made the situation in some regions more complicated, and the European Union, by adopting an independent and moderate policy, can play a constructive role in the peaceful settlement of the conflicts in different parts of the world,” Larijani said during a meeting with Latvia’s Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics in Tehran on Wednesday.

Larijani described bilateral ties between Tehran and Riga as age-old, saying the Iranian nation and government have always had a positive view on the relations with Latvia, Press TV reported.

Pointing to the great potential of the two countries to boost economic, trade and cultural ties, Larijani said economic and trade transactions between state and private sectors of both countries should further expand.

The Latvian minister, for his part, described the Islamic Republic as a key and powerful country in the region, calling for the promotion of relations in all spheres.

He praised Iran’s positive role in resolving regional crises, especially in Afghanistan, adding that Latvia, which will assume the EU presidency next year, is willing to cooperate with the Islamic Republic in this regard.

On the Syrian crisis, Rinkevics described dialog and political solution as the sole way to resolve the conflict in the Arab country, urging all international and regional players to contribute to the settlement process.

The Latvian foreign minister also expressed satisfaction with Iran's interim deal with world powers over its nuclear energy program, expressing the hope that a final agreement would pave the way for the enhancement of relations between the EU and Iran.