BRUSSELS - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier believes that the differences between the European Union (EU) and Russia over Ukraine have not affected their cooperation over the Iranian dossier and efforts to settle the Syrian conflict.
“At the (six-party international) talks with Iran in Vienna we did not get an impression that Russia has taken an obstructive stance on the Iranian dossier because of Ukraine and the new conflict between East and West,” he said at a briefing in Brussels on Dec. 15.
“On the contrary, Russia proposed certain elements which enabled us to get closer to the solution (of the Iranian nuclear problem). Without it, this would not have been achieved,” the minister added.
“Also, (UN Special Representative) Staffan de Mistura is seeking contact with Russia in his efforts (to resolve the Syrian conflict),” he said.
