• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Iran ready for multilateral talks to build confidence: Rafsanjani

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Nov 12, IRNA
Iran-Philippine-Rafsanjani
Chairman of Expediency Council (EC) Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Saturday Iran is ready to take step towards confidence-building through multilateral talks.

His remarks came in a meeting with the visiting Philippines' House of Representatives Speaker Jose de Venecia who arrived in Tehran Thursday morning to attend the seventh general assembly of the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace (AAPP) which opened here today (November 12).

The AAPP conference is aimed at finding solutions to longstanding issues affecting the international community.

Parliaments of 39 Asian countries have been invited to the meeting which is expected to prepare the ground for establishment of an AAPP general assembly.

Stressing that the use of nuclear energy within the frameworks of Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was the absolute right of all nations, Rafsanjani criticized efforts made by some certain powers to put more pressures on Iran over its nuclear program.

"We are sincerely and strongly saying that using nuclear energy within the NPT frameworks is the absolute right of all countries," emphasized the EC chief.

He pointed to the current situations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Palestine, arguing that most of the regional problems stemmed from the "unnecessary presence of the US in the region." Referring to the results of the US midterm election during which Democrats won the control of Senate and the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Rafsanjani said "The unjustifiable continuation of US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq has put an end to Republicans long-time ruling over US parliament."

As for Tehran-Manila "good" diplomatic relations, Rafsanjani said Iran was determined to promote its bilateral ties with the Philippines.

Regretting that arrogant powers were not happy with cooperation among developing countries, Rafsanjani said Tehran and Manila could cooperate in various fields, particularly in the field of
petrochemical industry.

Rafsanjani recalled his 1995 visit to the Philippines saying that he had realized during his visit that officials and people of the country were "hardworking."

For his part, de Venecia stressed that Iran is a powerful and influential state in the region which could "play essential role for regional and international peace and security."

Inviting Rafsanjani for a second visit to the Philippines, the speaker said the two sides had many grounds to promote bilateral cooperation especially in the field of petrochemical industry.

De Venecia stressed that Tehran and Manila could narrow their religious differences by resorting to the dialogue among civilizations initiative which would help strengthen peace and friendship all over the world.

So far the Philippine speaker held separate meetings with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Vice-Speaker of Majlis Mohammad-Hassan Abutorabi-Fard.

He is also scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

1394/1412