A top EU diplomat warned Monday that Europe's improving relations with Iran depended on the continuation of political and economic reforms and an end to its efforts to torpedo the Middle East process. Iran's continued support for Palestinian militant groups and suspicions it is seeking to acquire non-conventional weapons pose "a very serious obstacle to closer relations", EU high representative for foreign affairs Javier Solana told a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi. "In recent years, there has been an improvement in EU-Iran relations. Let me make clear from the outset that the process of reform in Iran has been crucial for this positive development," Solana said in reference to the five-year-old reforms of moderate President Mohammad Khatami.
"Yasss... One must keep up at least the appearance of reform. Otherwise some power not as sophisticated as we, not as multilateral, may do something rash. If you must have weapons capable of killing millions, at least be discrete about it..." |