Vienna to expand cooperation with Tehran in all domains

Austrian Ambassador to Tehran Friedrich Stift said on Wednesday that the Austrian government is willing to develop economic cooperation with Iran in all domains, AVA Diplomatic reports.

Speaking to Governor-General of Qazvin province Morteza Roozbeh, Stift said that he believes that with the settlement of the nuclear dispute with the western governments and Iran-G5+1 statement in Lausanne, Switzerland, a new solar year has started in Iran in a good way.

He said that the Austrian government welcomes Iran-G5+1 comprehensive accord scheduled to be signed in the next three months and hoped the two sides will reach final accord in the remaining period.

He referred to his country’s 500-year-old relations with Iran and said Austrians have had relations and cooperation with Iranians in various domains since the Safavid era.

He said Tehran-Vienna diplomatic ties also date back to 140 years ago and after victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, bilateral relations have promoted.

Saying that Iran-Austria relations are at high level, the Austrian diplomat said Austria was the first European country to hospitalize the Iranian soldiers, injured by the Iraqi chemical attacks by Saddam Hussein Army in 1980-1988.

The ambassador said that Austrian president was the first western high-ranking official at the presidential level to visit Iran after the Islamic Revolution.

He referred to an invitation extended to Austrian President by Iranian president to visit Tehran and said the Austrian president has welcomed the invitation and the visit will most probably take place in the second half of 2015.

He said Iran-Austria political cooperation is noteworthy.

‘For instance, Iran and Austria both supported independence of Bonsia and Herzegovina and share common stance about the newly-independent republic.’

He said that the Austrian government is eager to expand ties, scientific and economic cooperation with Tehran.

‘Besides diplomatic and economic relations, both countries share considerable social affinities to the extent that they witness half a century record of Iran-Austria friendship association in Tehran and providing Iranians with German language education to 4,000 people a year by the association as well as granting citizenship to between 40,000 and 60,000 Iranians in the European country.

He said that about 2,000 Iranian physicians are involved in rendering health services in Austria and many other Iranians residing in Austria are engineers, university instructors and artists, enjoying respect from the Austrian people and community leaders.

The Austrian diplomat said Austria can cooperate and share experience with Qazvin province in urban management, academic affairs, field study and field planning and environment protection.

The Austrian ambassador said in the meantime that his country is ready to set up an exhibition in Qazvin Province with the theme of environment protection, culture and arts.

During his one-day visit, the Austrian ambassador is scheduled to visit certain historical monuments and natural habitats and sight-seeings in Qazvin and take part in a meeting with the municipality directors.