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Iranian FM meets UN chief on sidelines of Munich security conference

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Sat / 19 February 2022 / 13:49

Tehran (ISNA) - Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has met with UN Secretary General António Guterres on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

In the meeting, Amir-Abdollahian and Guterres discussed issues of mutual interest including the situation in Yemen and Afghanistan and the latest developments in the Vienna talks.

Amir-Abdollahian said regular talks have and consultations have helped bring the views of the two sides closer to each other.

Regarding the situation in Afghanistan, the foreign minister underlined the need for the continuation of delivering humanitarian aid to the people of the country. Amir-Abdollahian said the issue of forming an inclusive government in Afghanistan with the participation of all political groups is vital and very effective for the resolution of Afghanistan's problems.

The top Iranian diplomat further lamented the continuing influx of refugees from Afghanistan to Iran, and the exposure of Afghanistan to the dangers of the spread of terrorism, refugees and drug production and trafficking that affects the stability and security of the wider region and the whole world.

He stressed the need to expand and strengthen UN assistance and the services of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to Afghanistan's neighbors, most notably Iran.

As for the current situation in Yemen, Amir-Abdollahian also said the issue has reached a critical point and political efforts to resolve the crisis and prevent the continuation of the humanitarian catastrophe in the country should be maximized. He further referred to the importance of the role of UN Secretary General in this regard and underlined the need to resolve the crisis in Yemen and end the aggression and war on the country.

Amir-Abdollahian also spoke about the negotiations on lifting sanctions on Iran in Vienna. He stressed the seriousness and intensity of the talks, saying progress in the negotiations is significant, but the other side has yet to make serious political decisions and show determination in practice about some key issues and regarding the need to secure the rights and interests of Iran.

UN Secretary General António Guterres also expressed pleasure with the opportunity to engage in direct consultations and exchange views with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Guterres said, "We also think that the government of Afghanistan should be really inclusive and not a show and we believe a single-ethnic government is no solution to the problems in Afghanistan."

The UN Secretary General expressed the world body and the international community's deep gratitude to the Islamic Republic of Iran for its approach to the plight of Afghan refugees that has become critical and dangerous.

Guterres stressed, "The UN is aware that the humanitarian aid delivered to Iran is limited and low in quantity, stressing the need to increase and strengthen global support and assistance to the Islamic Republic for Afghan refugees and asylum seekers and underlined the necessity to pursue this issue".

He spoke about the concerns of the international community over the growing of the heinous phenomenon of terrorism in Afghanistan, as well as the need to address humanitarian issues such as the realization of the right to education for women and girls in Afghanistan.

Guterres then stressed the need to support and assist the Afghan economy and prevent economic crisis and collapse in this country, which will have consequences for the stability and security of this country, the wider region and the whole world.

Reaffirming the humanitarian views and concerns of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the crisis and the continuation of the war in Yemen, the UN Secretary General noted that the continuation of this humanitarian catastrophe is not really worthy of the world, and peace and stability must be restored to Yemen, the Yemeni people and the region. Guterres emphasized that all parties and countries must help achieve a political solution in Yemen.

Guterres also touched on the Vienna talks to revive the Iran nuclear deal, JCPOA. He said, "We are all looking forward to an agreement being signed and implemented as soon as possible by the negotiating parties that will be acceptable to all sides and ensure the interests of Iran."

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