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EU urges for Iran's constructive role in Syria crisis

Xinhua, November 7, 2015 Adjust font size:

Martin Schulz, president of the European parliament, said here Saturday that the stability of the Middle East region is of high importance and Iran can play a leading and constructive part in this regard.

The visiting president of the European parliament welcomed Iran's participation in the recent talks over the future of Syria and expressed the hope that the next meetings will help reaching solutions for the crisis in the Arab state.

Schulz, who arrived in Iran's capital Tehran on Saturday for talks to step up dialogue between Iran and the EU, made the remarks at a joint press conference with Ali Larijani, Iran's parliament speaker.

Asked about the future of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's political scene, he said that "There cannot be a long-time power for Assad." His stay in power can be considered for a short time while the talks for the future of Syria are underway, Schulz said.

Iran, Europe, the United States and Saudi Arabia can help facilitate the process for the Syrian people to decide on the future of their own country, he said.

National dialogue should be carried out in Syria and those who have bombed their own people should be accountable for their actions, he added.

Iran's speaker replied that the Syrian crisis is not the issue of a person in power, but the question of terrorism which should be dealt with for the good of the region.

The growth of terrorism is a threat to the whole region and the restoration of security and stability in Syria. "We should fight terrorism," he stressed.

The other countries should not decide on the future of the Syrian people; they can facilitate the rule of people in Syria in a democratic process, he added.

The visit by Schulz is the first trip of a European Parliament president to Iran, at the invitation of Iran's parliament speaker.

In his one-day visit, Schulz will meet with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif to discuss the issues of mutual concern. Endit