Iran, Italy enjoy abundant potentials for expansion of ties

Former Iranian Ambassador to Rome Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini stressed Iran and Italy's important roles in the world equations, and said there are abundant potentials and proper grounds for the further development of relations between the two countries. "There are grounds for the expansion of ties (between Iran and Italy) in the political and parliamentary fields and for scientific and university cooperation," Hosseini told FNA on Saturday. "Iran as an important and influential country in Asia, the Middle-East and the Persian Gulf region, and Italy as an influential country in the EU and North of Africa can have more influence in all fields through political consultations," he added. Hosseini referred to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Rome on Afghanistan, and said the MoU has been finalized and is waiting for the Iranian and Italian foreign ministers' endorsement. Officials from the Iranian and Italian Foreign Ministries, in a meeting earlier this month, underlined the necessity of facilitating issuance of visas for citizens of the two countries. In a one-day meeting, Italian Foreign Ministry Secretary General Michele Valensise and Iranian Foreign Ministry Consulate Director General Seyed Hossein Mirfakhar exchanged views on the issue. The Italian Foreign Ministry issued a statement after the meeting, and called the negotiation and expansion of cooperation between the two countries important and declared that the two delegations considered ways to strengthen cultural and student exchanges and facilitating issuing tourist visas for citizens of the two countries. In relevant remarks, Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta expressed Rome's willingness to further expand its bilateral ties with Tehran during the tenure of Iran's President-elect Hassan Rouhani. "I am well aware of the importance of positive relations with the Islamic Republic and will make every effort to improve bilateral ties," the Italian prime minister said in June. Letta reiterated the expansion of his country's ties with Iran, and hoped that Iran's president-elect would also have a positive view about the Tehran-Rome relations. Also in June, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in a congratulatory message to Rouhani called for enhanced relations between Tehran and Rome. Rouhani won Iran's presidential election on June 14 with over 50% of the votes cast in his favor.