Spanish Senate President Esperanza Aguirre Gil de Biedma arrived here yesterday heading a parliamentary delegation on a visit prompted by the mutual interests of Tehran and Madrid in the expansion of bilateral ties, especially parliamentary relations.

Considering that Spain currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU), the meetings between Spanish and Iranian officials will also be beneficial to Iran-EU relations. Iran and Spain enjoy longstanding cordial political ties, but the level of economic and commercial exchanges between the two countries is not at a satisfactory level proportionate to their potentials. Madrid's exports to Iran stood at 326 million dollars in value in the year 2000, while its imports, with 82 percent being crude oil, were valued at only 200 million dollars.

The Islamic Republic would like to see more Spanish companies investing in this country. So far one of the main barriers to foreign investment has been the lack of clear-cut laws in this regard. But, fortunately the Expediency Council is currently studying proposed legislation on foreign investment which could remove the existing barriers.

The main areas of activities open to investment by Spanish companies are ship-building, turbine-manufacturing, fisheries, and especially oil and gas.

Iran and the EU, following a rather cool period in their ties, have been trying for the past few years to restore their warm relations. However, the two sides need more exchanges in order to get more familiar with each other's viewpoints so that certain misunderstandings that currently affect bilateral ties may be removed. The exchange of visits by parliamentary delegations is surely a positive step in this direction. This is why the new speaker of the European Parliament, in a meeting with the Iranian deputy foreign minister for Euro-American affairs, called for more parliamentary exchanges between the two sides.

Indeed, the expansion of Iran-EU relations can prove vital for maintaining international peace and security in the framework of dialogue among civilizations, contrary to the new doctrine based on clash of civilizations advocated by U.S. President George W. Bush right before the New Year, when he called 2002 the Year of War!

In particular, the two sides may cooperate in the reconstruction of war-torn Afghanistan. Iran's roads and ports can provide a good opportunity for Europe's participation in Afghanistan's reconstruction process.