Vienna, March 1, IRNA – Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi, who is in Vienna to attend the 5th meeting of United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), met with some of the Austria's elites there.
Salehi conferred on the latest regional and international developments with the Austrian elites in the meeting in Vienna on Thursday.
Two Austria's former foreign ministers as well as culture minister and three members of the country's parliament were among those who attended the meeting.
Head of Austria-Iran Friendship Association (AIFA) Fasel Aband called the Austrian elite's meeting with Salehi as constructive.
In the meantime, the Iranian foreign minister also met with his Austrian counterpart Michael Spindelegger on Thursday.
In the meeting the two sides held talks about issues of mutual interest as well as regional and international developments.
They also studied lastest round of Iran-G5+1 nuclear talks and evaluated the talks as positive.
The two foreign ministers underlined the need to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis.
Speaking at the 5th United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Global Forum in Vienna on Wednesday, he described the recent talks between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) as positive and a milestone in the negotiations with the world powers.
'From the latest information I received, I'm happy to say that the outcome of the meeting was positive, that it has been put on the right track and it is moving in the right direction, and that is important.'
'I would say things are taking a turning point, and I think the Almaty meeting will be a milestone,' the Iranian foreign minister stated.
Salehi had also a meeting with the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the sidelines of the 5th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations.
During the meeting, the UN chief stressed Iran's legitimate right to use peaceful nuclear energy.
The last round of the fresh talks between Tehran and the Group 5+1 ended in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Wednesday.
Salehi arrived in Vienna on Wednesday morning to participate in the 5th Global Forum of the UNAOC, entitled 'Responsible Leadership in Diversity and Dialogue'.
The UNAOC meeting which kicked off in Vienna on Wednesday ended on Thursday.
Austrian media have cited the key participants of the meeting as the UN Chief, Ban Ki-Moon, Iranian Foreign Minister and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Teyyip Erdogan.
The foreign ministers of Iraq, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey and Afghanistan as well as President of Austria Heinz Fischer and Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia were other guests.
Established in 2005, the AOC is one of the affiliated bodies of the UN which seeks to galvanize international action against extremism through international, intercultural and interreligious dialogue and cooperation.
Leaders of 135 countries attended the Vienna forum which is to discuss major issues, including immigration, convergence, freedom of religion and the role and status of media.
