Ottawa to host Iran-Canada next talks

EghtesadOnline: The next round of talks between Iran and Canada will take place in Ottawa, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi announced.

News ID: ۷۴۲۶۷۸

11 July 2017

“Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Canadian counterpart held a phone call before Iran’s presidential election. At the same moment, a Canadian delegation visited Iran,” Qassemi said about the latest process of talks between Iran and Canada on the establishing bilateral ties, according to ISNA.

“As a result of the negotiations, both sides agreed that the consultations should be continued and a new date for the next round of talks must be outlined,” he added.

“I think the next round of talks between Iran and Canada will take place in Ottawa. We are optimistic that the talks will continue and achieve good results,” the spokesman went on to say.

Qassemi also congratulated Iraq’s victory in fighting against terrorism and liberation of Mosul.

“Our relations with the European Union or even Europe itself are historical. We’ve had good relations with majority of European countries and we can continue to do so. We had industrial, scientific, cultural, technological, financial and banking ties with this region before the cruel sanctions imposed on Iran,” he said about the future of Iran-EU relations.

“In Europe, there are countries about which our people are not optimistic because of their past or even present behavior. These countries are exceptional, maybe one or two. But there’s a positive attitude about other countries, meaning they do not have aggressive behavior nor colonial pasts against Iran. If they respect Iran’s sovereignty and do not interfere in its internal affairs, I think Iran will have no problem with developing ties with Europe”.

“Unfortunately, Saudi Arabia is suffering from a delusion. And based on its delusion, sometimes Saudi officials say things that do not adhere to reality at all. In the past decades or even centuries, Iran has shown that it has never invaded any country. Although it has been invaded, Iran has never invaded other states. Iran, based on its population, economic, and human power is a mighty country and will put great efforts to become even more powerful, especially because of the acrimonious experience of the imposed war (Iraq’s war against Iraq in the 1980s),” Qassemi said about Saudi officials’ harsh tone toward Iran.

“Iran is willing to live in an environment surrounded by peace, stability and security. Peace and stability in the region would mean peace and stability inside Iran. In a troubled and conflict-torn region, development would not be possible for Iran. We’re in serious need of development, both inside Iran and across the region to fight poverty, starvation and also extremism which itself is partly a product of poverty and hunger. So, Iran, with this worldview, has a positive attitude towards its neighbors. It does not have a hegemonic tendency towards other nations. Some countries inflame Iranophobia to make others concerned about Iran. They’re making a rookie mistake. Our goal is cooperation, not hegemony”.