FM urges new ground for cooperation with NKorea
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, May 11, IRNA
Iran-NKorea-Meet
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki here Thursday night stressed the importance of removing certain obstacles and preparing new ground for cooperation with North Korea.
Mottaki was speaking in a meeting with the visiting North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Yong Il, who is currently in Tehran at the head of a delegation.
"The Iranian government is interested in expansion of ties with North Korea in various political, economic and cultural fields," he said while pointing to determination of the two countries' senior officials to continue amicable relations and cooperation.
He added the issue of North Korea's debt to Iran is among obstacles in the way of promotion of bilateral cooperation, saying, "The two countries can find a formula to remove the obstacle." The minister expressed Iran's support for cooperation between North and South Korea as primary steps for establishment of unity between the two states.
Kim, for his part, assessed as friendly and deep-rooted mutual relations between Tehran and Pyongyang.
North Korea is aware of the importance of bolstering ties with Iran and will support Tehran at the international circles, he said.
He stressed Iran's right to access to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and voiced his country's readiness to further boost cooperation with Iran in various economic fields.
At the end of the meeting, Kim and Mottaki signed a memorandum of understanding on expansion of cooperation between the two countries' Ministries of Foreign Affairs.
Based on the MoU, the two sides are committed to exchange delegations at the level of deputy foreign ministers every year and hold consultations on different international issues.
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