Vienna, Nov 29, IRNA -- Iran and the Europeans will resume their trade
and cooperation negotiations as of mid-December, putting their
political, economic and security cooperation back on track, after they
were stalled over Tehran's nuclear dispute.
A senior Iranian diplomat told IRNA here Monday that the Europeans
announced their readiness for resuming the operation of 'Iran-EU
working committees' during Sunday night negotiations.
The announcement came as Iran and the EU troika of Germany, France
and Britain reached an agreement over Tehran's suspension of uranium
enrichment activities.
Several rounds of talks on a mutual trade and cooperation
agreement (TCA) had been held between the two sides before Iran's
nuclear issue was catapulted into the center of their talks.
The negotiations are seen as a feather in Iran's cap amid
Washington's efforts to isolate the Islamic Republic at the
nternational scene.
The EU-Iran talks began after President Mohammad Khatami came into
power in May 1997, with the EU taking up a policy of 'comprehensive
dialogue' with the Islamic Republic in the form of biannual troika
meetings on political and economic issues.
The political part of the dialogue covers issues regarding
conflicts, including in the Middle East, non-proliferation of weapons
of mass destruction, human rights and terrorism.
On the economic front, the European Union is exploring
possibilities for cooperation with Iran in energy, trade and
investment as well as refugees and drugs control.
The EU is Iran's biggest trading partner, with oil accounting for
over 80 percent of Teheran's exports to the EU. Iran also sells
agricultural products -- mainly pistachios -- as well as textiles and
carpets to the EU.