European Union Council President Herman Van Rompuy met for the first time on Thursday with Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the annual session of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss with him the Iranian nuclear program and the Syrian conflict.
"We told him that we appreciate the new tone, the new language that he and the members of the Iranian government use. But in order to re-establish confidence – which lacked in the relations between Iran and the rest of the world over the few years- we also need concrete forward measures,’’ Van Rompuy told journaists after the meeting. He was accompanied by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
‘’Confidence is built on concrete measures and that’s what we are waiting for,’’ he added.
The meeting took place ahead of the talks between the so called P5+1 major world powers (the US, the UK, France, China, and Russia plus Germany) with Iran’s Foreign Minister which focused on Iran’s nuclear program. It also marked the highest-level of direct contact between Tehran and Washington in six years.
In a speech to the UN General Assembly, the EU Council head focused mainly on the crisis in Syria, appealing for a rapid political solution and offering Europe's help in advancing talks. “The European Union is ready to provide all support needed to achieve a political settlement,” he said.
Speaking of the Middle East Peace Process, he said ‘’prospects for progress look better than they have for some time.’’ ‘’All parties are returning to the negotiating table, with renewed seriousness. For the European Union the parameters are clear: Palestine and Israel must be able to fulfil their legitimate aspirations; two states living side by side in peace and security. Now both parties must seize the moment,” he added.