A senior Iranian lawmaker says former French socialist Prime Minister Michel Rocard’s unofficial visit to Iran indicates that the new French government is distancing itself from Nicolas Sarkozy’s policies.

“Although such visits are usual after changes take place in the political system of any country, Rocard’s trip to Iran shows the new French statesmen do not intend to continue Sarkozy’s approach to Iran,” Hossein Ebrahimi noted on Sunday.

The lawmaker, who is deputy head of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, stated new French politicians have decided to regulate their relations with Iran in a way as to make up for damage inflicted on France by Sarkozy’s policies.

“Since France has taken the first step to improve relations with Iran, the Islamic Republic must value this opportunity and interact with France in various fields,” he said.

Ebrahimi said expanding nuclear cooperation, large-scale economic issues, energy supply and cooperation in manufacturing cars are some of the main topics discussed in meetings with Rocard.

“France is well-aware that expanding economic relations with Iran will resolve unemployment and the other economic problems of this country,” the lawmaker said.

Rocard, whose three-day trip to Iran has not been coordinated by the French foreign ministry, arrived in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Saturday to meet with a number of Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi.

According to the French daily Le Figaro, the visit is aimed at "boosting relations" between Paris and Tehran, which were seriously strained under the term of outgoing French President Nikolas Sarkozy in office.
press tv/281

News ID 181798