February 28, 2016
THE BUSINESS OF IRAN IS BUSINESS:
Sanctions lifted, Tehran looks to boost financial ties with Swiss (TIMES OF ISRAEL, February 28, 2016)
The leaders of Switzerland and Iran agreed Saturday to establish a "road map" for bolstering trade and diplomatic ties between the two nations, with Tehran courting the banking giant as key to boosting its financial situation after years of punishing sanctions. [...]While the Swiss statement noted human rights as a subject of discussion between the two countries, Iranian leaders used the visit to celebrate Iranian "democracy" in the form of Friday's elections to parliament and the Assembly of Experts, as well as to chide other Western powers who have been more critical of Iranian human rights abuses and its role in several conflicts throughout the Middle East.The Mehr News Agency quoted Iran's Rouhani as saying Saturday: "One major principle that brings Iran and Switzerland close is believing in independence, national sovereignty, democracy, and this very election, all of which serve as the main pillars to these countries' close ties."In their meeting, the two leaders discussed practical steps for boosting economic ties, according to Iranian reports. Rouhani told media outlets that he and Schneider-Ammann had agreed that Switzerland would help Iran obtain full membership in the World Trade Organization, where it has been an observer since 2005. The two countries would also finalize several unfinished memorandums of understanding related to scientific cooperation.
Posted by Orrin Judd at February 28, 2016 7:56 AM