Iran official to visit N.Z.

Press, 2 November 1989, Page 2

Iran official to visit N.Z.

PA Wellington Iran, in the course of “choosing its friends” for longterm relations, says it is sending a top Foreign Office official to New Zealand for talks. Jalal Sadatian, who arrives today, is director-general of the Far East and Pacific division of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He will visit the Forest Research Institute and meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Marshall, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Moyle, the Minister of Forestry, Mr Tapsell, and the Minister of Education, Mr Goff, during his six-day visit. Iran's Ambassador to New Zealand, Muhammad Taheri, said the timing of the visit was important because Iran was in the middle of choosing its friends for long-term relations. New Zealand stood a good chance because of its policy of non-interference and independent views on international relations. Since the truce with Iraq, Iran had changed its constitution and power was now concentrated in the hands of President Rafsanjani. The Prime Minister’s post had been “deleted.” President Rafsanjani now presided over Cabinet, and a big effort was going into national reconstruction. Mr Taheri said it was an important time for New Zealand to prove that it was a good partner for Iran, as it had been for the last 10 years. Mr Taheri appeared at ease on the recent breakdown in lamb-mutton trade talks, with Iran,

He said the two parties were still communicating by telex. th