The Iranian authorities have told the Minister for Foreign Affairs they would be "positively disposed" to some or all of the country's beef imports being supplied by Ireland, the Department said yesterday.
A Department statement quoted an Iranian minister as telling Mr Andrews, who is in Tehran, that there is nothing to prevent the resumption of Irish beef imports in its coming financial year, from March 31st. Iran had stopped importing Irish beef because of its fears about BSE infection.
The Iranian authorities now say they would be "positively disposed" towards some or all of the 20,000 tonnes of beef they will require in the next financial year being supplied by the State, the Department said.
According to the Department, the Iranian Minister for the Construction Crusade, Mr Saidi Kia, told Mr Andrews that the successful negotiations last October between Irish and Iranian veterinary experts meant "there was nothing to prevent the resumption of trade".
Mr Andrews said he was "most anxious" that the agreement reached between the veterinary experts "would translate into actual exports of Irish beef within the shortest possible time".
During his visit, which ends today, the Minister had separate meetings with President Khatami, who, he said, made clear his desire to begin "a new era of relations with the rest of the world".
He also met the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mr Kharazzi, the Minister for Commerce, Mr Shariat Madari, and former president Rafsanjani.
Representatives of Irish meat exporters based in Iran were also briefed by Mr Andrews on his discussions with Iranian ministers.
Mr Andrews arrived in Tehran on Tuesday for a meeting of the Third Joint Commission for Economic, Industrial, Scientific and Technical Co-Operation between Ireland and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
According to the Department, "both sides agreed there was potential for expansion and diversification in the field of economic and trade relations". A memorandum of understanding dealing with future co-operation in a number of fields was signed during the Minister's visit.
