Europe

Respect public will in Ukraine, Syria: Iran official

351970_Ukraine-political-crisisA top Iranian official says commitment to democratic principles and respect for public will are the only solutions to the ongoing crises in Ukraine and Syria.

“All countries should cooperate to prepare the ground for free elections so that the people may determine their desired destiny,” Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said in a meeting with visiting Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos in Tehran on Sunday.

“Foreign interference and spread of violence and terrorism are not only against international security and stability but will involve their supporters in unsolvable problems,” Shamkhani added.

He emphasized that the West’s meddlesome strategies in the Middle East have only intensified insecurity in Iraq and Afghanistan and led to “the uncontrollable expansion of terrorist groups.”

The Greek foreign minister, for his part, said only diplomacy would solve the standoff over Iran’s nuclear energy program.

As the rotating president of the European Union, Venizelos said, Greece welcomes the interim nuclear deal between Iran and the six major world powers in Geneva and shoulders the responsibility to facilitate economic and political cooperation between Tehran and the bloc, Venizelos added.

He emphasized that Iran plays a leading and undeniable role in settling regional crises.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany are working to hammer out a comprehensive deal following the Geneva accord. Experts from both sides wrapped up their latest talks in Vienna, Austria, on March 7.

The next round of high-level talks between Iran and the six countries is to be held in Vienna on March 17.

The Greek foreign minister is on an official visit to Tehran at the head of a high-ranking politico-economic delegation to hold talks with Iranian officials on the promotion of bilateral ties between Athens and Tehran.

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