Salehi: Foreign presence hinders Afghanistan development, causes instability
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, July 3, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said on Tuesday that continued presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan is the main stumbling block to the country’s stability and development.
Speaking to Afghan Minister of Urban Development Hasan Abdullahi, Salehi said Iran is the safest, most benevolent and long-standing friend of Afghanistan and Afghan people.
Underlining Iran’s principled stance in support of stability, security and progress of Afghanistan, Salehi said regarding Iran’s good intention towards Afghanistan and Afghans, it has played and will continue to play an active role at both regional and international levels in support of Afghanistan.
Stressing the key elements uniting Islamic Iran and Afghanistan and their nations including geographical proximity and abundant cultural and lingual commonalties, Salehi underlined joint efforts by Iranian and Afghan officials to further expand mutual ties in different domains.
Outlining extensive joint projects of both the government and private sector in the housing sector both inside and outside Iran, Salehi said Iran is ready to share experience and technical and engineering expertise with the Afghan people.
He also underlined the need for Afghan refugees residing in Iran to legalize their residence in order to remove certain impediments and barriers.
Abdullahi, for his part, thanked Iran for its constant support for Afghanistan, hoping for speedy legalization of Afghan refugees' residence in Iran.
He also expressed pleasure with his talks and agreements with his Iranian counterpart, underlining the Afghan government's support for all-out ties with Iran.
He said ground is prepared for extensive presence of the Iranian private and public sectors in Afghanistan's reconstruction efforts including development and infrastructural projects, especially in the housing sector.
In a separate meeting with Sri Lankan Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa here on Tuesday, Salehi said that on humanitarian grounds and Islamic principles, the Islamic Republic of Iran has never had a covetous eye on other countries.
Salehi said Iran believes that relations should be in line with the interests of independent states.
Pointing to good relations between Iran and Sri Lanka in different political, economic and commercial fields, Salehi stressed the need for full implementation of the already signed agreements.
He touched on the imperialist powers’ pressures to dictate their will on such independent nations as Iran and said despite pressures, the Iranian government and nation are procedding head on their path to progress and independence.
He said Iran is ready to put its experiences in housing sector at the disposal of Sri Lanka.
Weerawansa, in turn, thanked Iran for supporting Sri Lanka, especially in international fora.
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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 1022231
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