Tehran, March 2, IRNA Spanish Foreign Minister Jos Garca-Margallo on Sunday cut short his 4-day visit to Tehran to attend an EU emergency meeting on Ukraine.In a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, Garca-Margallo regretted that he had to leave Iran before completing his visit to historical city of Isfahan.
The Spanish foreign minister arrived in Tehran on Saturday and left Tehran for Isfahan in central Iran, but only after meeting with Isfahan governor-general he had to return to Tehran before visiting archeological sites in the city.
He was expected to stay in Iran until Tuesday but was forced to cut short his visit as situation in Ukraine escalated.
The visit to Iran was the first by a Spanish foreign minister since 2004.
Garca-Margallo told reporters in his joint press conference with Zarif that his country is seeking to promote ties with Iran reduced in the past few years.
He noted that he was eager to introduce Isfahan to Spanish people.
He voiced Madrid?s readiness to cooperate with Iran in oil and gas areas.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Garca-Margallo called for Iran?s support for Spain?s candidacy to gain non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council.
On Ukrainian crisis, he said that Madrid is closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine and insists on the maintenance of territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Garca-Margallo said that the EU is in talks with Russia to find a peaceful end to the crisis.
He rejected any foreign intervention in Ukraine, saying that the crisis in the country has to be resolved by Ukrainians themselves.
By IRNA
The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.
