Iran-EU Ties Moving Forward: Educationist

Islamabad, March 12, IRNA -- A Pakistani educationist on Tuesday said that European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton’s visit to Iran comes at a right time and shows that Europe is keen to develop strong ties with the Islamic Republic. Talking to IRNA Lubna Abid Ali, Professor at the School of Politics and International Relations in Quaid-i-Azam University said that strong Iran-Europe ties will benefit both parties. “Catherine Ashton has played well,” she said. Catherine Ashton visited Iran at the invitation of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to promote ties with the country. During the visit she separately met with President Hassan Rouhani, Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Representative of the Supreme Leader in Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, Secretary of SNSC Ali Shamkhani and Head of Strategic Research Center of Expediency Council Ali Akbar Velayati. Lubna Abid Ali, noted that while there are difficulties in Iran-Europe ties, it is good that both sides want to build stronger ties, “Catherine Ashton visited Iran as a foreign minister of the European Union which would help Iran to present its nuclear stance to the Europe in a more effective manner,” she noted. She added that the visit of Catherine Ashton is very important for the Gulf and Middle Eastern region. The analyst said that it is very optimistic for the world that direct talks between Iran and the Europe have started. The professor added that Europe has signed many trade agreements with the Islamic Republic that would help in strengthening European economies. Lubna Abid Ali praising the politics of Iran said that the country has never yielded to external pressure regarding its peaceful nuclear program. The analyst said that Iran has assured the world that they have developed nuclear energy for medical sector and power generation. The scholar was of the opinion that Iran is a resilient nation and has been countering the illegal sanctions very well. She said that it is not difficult for Iran to handle sanctions diplomatically. The intellectual said that Europe has not always towed the American line in dealing with international issues. “On so many occasions the EU has taken an independent stance on world issues,” said the expert on international affairs. Lubna Abid Ali has also served as the Director of Department of International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University. Her Research Interests are Middle East, theories of comparative politics, research methodology, politics of Iran & South West Asia, global political economy, Islamic spirituality./end