In an address to the annual meeting of the European Council of Foreign Relations (ECFR) in Berlin on Monday, Zarif referred to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as an example of the win-win solution and underlined having a regional security forum in Persian Gulf to promote dialogue.
He said Iran nuclear accord was successful because it was considered by all as a victory and “we should well bear in mind the importance of the thought resulting from a positive grouping. In the case of the nuclear issue, we were engaged in a loss-loss game with the US until when we managed to redefine the problem through active contribution of Europe.”
While emphasizing the grave role of Europe in promotion of dialogue in the Middle East, Zarif said, “European Union cannot think of victory at the cost of others’ failure; this is an issue Iran is well aware of. European Union enjoys necessary capability and values to help solve disputes in the Persian Gulf.”
Elsewhere in his address, Zarif referred to root causes of problems and insecurity in the Persian Gulf and north of Africa and said the region suffers structural problems, asymmetry in size, wealth and population and incapability of regional countries to deal with needs of people to contribute to national living, leading to the youth’s violent reactions.
Zarif said personal hope is among key elements of social and international stability and hopelessness will result in hatred.
“Security is not purchasable and foreign policy is not a commodity. Arms deals do not mean partnership.”
While negating the Saudi preached dialogue to show others’ faulty, Zarif said such a kind of approach is similar to Daesh kind of dialogue.
“The discourse of hatred and elimination in our region can be exported to the four corners of the universe and result in catastrophes far from expectation.”
Zarif arrived in Berlin on Monday to hold bilateral meetings and take part in the EFCR annual meeting. He is to visit Italy after German visit. Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi says during the visit, which falls within framework of bilateral ties, ways of expansion of ties in various political and economic domains will be discussed in talks with senior German and Italian officials.
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Berlin, June 26, IRNA – Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said on Monday that a regional security forum in Persian Gulf is needed.
