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Plans for Fischer's Iran visit 'in full swing'

Staff reporter
Staff reporter - [email protected]
Plans for Fischer's Iran visit 'in full swing'
President Heinz Fischer. Photo: APA

Austrian President Heinz Fischer's planned trip to Iran is starting to take shape. Even though there is no fixed date yet, the preparations were in "full swing", Iranian circles told the APA press agency on Tuesday.

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In accepting Iranian President Hassan Rohani's invitation, Fischer will be the first EU head of state to visit Iran since 2005. According to APA's sources, this showed that Vienna continued to be the "most important builder of bridges" for Iran to the EU.

The new Iranian government is generally considered to be moderate. But despite this, many Western countries and Israel are still very distrustful of the regime in Tehran, which is accused of severe human rights violations. The West is also suspicious of Iran's nuclear programme, which has been a point of controversy for years.

Diplomatic circles said that Fischer's visit also depended on the outcome of the nuclear talks between Iran and the five UN veto powers plus Germany. The parties are aiming to find a solution by July 20th.

Informed circles say that the first half of September would be the ideal time for the president's visit. This is because Ramadan is observed in July, and no bilateral visits are planned in that time. August is the festival season in Austria.

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