FM: Vienna Visit Can Herald New Beginning for Expansion of Iran-EU Ties

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi who has just begun a tour of Vienna reiterated that the trip can serve as an opening for the further development of relations between Tehran and the European Union.
"The visit can serve as a prelude to the expansion of Iran's relations with the EU and a first and effective step in the consolidation and expansion of ties," Salehi told reporters upon arrival at Vienna airport on Monday night.

He described deepening of relations with the EU as one of priorities of Iran's foreign policy, and said, "We are faced with the EU's $500mln-worth market, while our ties with the EU have always been profound."

Salehi expressed the hope that the possible misunderstandings and problems between Iran and the EU would be resolved through fair a review and analysis of issues and the two sides' good will.

Iran and the EU have recently increased their trade exchanges and cooperation in trade and economic fields.

A recent report by Eurostat said that the value of the European Union's imports from Iran has reached 4.02bln euro during the first four months of 2011.

The Eurostat said in its latest estimate that the figure shows a 1.8% growth compared with the same period last year.

Also earlier reports by the website said that the Islamic Republic of Iran has supplied over 4 percent of the European Union's need to crude oil in the first three months of 2011.

According to Eurostat estimates, the 27-member bloc has imported a total volume of 896.13 million barrels of crude oil during the first three months of 2011.

Iran has supplied about 4.39% of EU's crude demands with 39.322 million barrels, the report said.

The report also added that the total value of Iran's crude exports to the EU amounted to $4.021billion during the said period.