TEHRAN Iranian President Mohammad Khatami here on
Thursday met separately with the Cuban Parliament speaker and
Cypriot foreign minister, where he reviewed Tehran's relations
with two countries.
President Mohammad Khatami in a meeting with Cypriot
Foreign Minister Yiannakis Kasoulides stressed further
expansion of Nicosia-Tehran relations. Khatami described
relations between the Islamic Republic and Cyprus as suitable'
adding Iran intended to improve its relations with all countries in
accordance with its detente policies.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran, through its detente policies, has
managed to turn sour relations with other countries into close
cooperation," he said.
"These policies, in addition to helping to regional security and
improving ties with European, Asian and African countries, can
bring about stability and progress," Khatami added.
He stressed the need for finding practical ways to forge
consolidated Iran-Cyprus ties, especially in the economic field
and said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran, thanks to its prominent
position in the region, is calling for expansion of its ties
according to mutual respect and common interests."
Khatami referred to Cyprus' strategic position in Europe, saying
the country could play a significant role in the issue of dialogue
among civilizations.
Kasoulides, for his part, conveyed Cypriot president's warm
greetings' as well as his written message to President Khatami,
adding his country's officials were in favor of expansion of
political, economic and touristic relations with Iran.
The Cypriot minister also met with Head of the Center for
Dialogue Among Civilizations, Ataollah Mohajerani on Thursday.
Also, Speaker of Cuba's National Assembly of Peoples' power
Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada conferred here on Thursday with
President Mohammad Khatami at Sa'd-Abad Cultural Complex
on issues of mutual interests.
According to the Presidential Office, President Khatami referred
to the good relations between the two countries mainly after the
Islamic Revolution and called for expansion of all-out relations
between Tehran and Havana, at the meeting.
Highlighting the great strides achieved by Cuba in the scientific,
technological, anti-drug campaign as well as illiteracy, Khatami
called for the need to exchange information in all scientific fields.
He termed the determination of the two countries in attaining
their independence as well as their success in reaching
development as commonalties of the revolutionary nations of Iran
and Cuba and said, "Taking into consideration the problems
created by some powers in this respect, a nation which has
experienced a great revolution and has managed to control its
fate will exercise resistance to the obstacles and never deviate
from his goals."
The Parliaments in Iran and Cuban are manifestation of
democracy of their respective governments, he said adding, "We
attach utmost importance to independence and respect the
people and value their presence in the political scene, because
there is no support for the governments except the people."
Undemocratic governments seek refuge of aliens to safeguard
their existence whilst the democratic ones resist against
aggressions, he said.
The president lauded the positions adopted by Cuba on some
important international fora such as Group of 77, Non-Aligned
Movement. He also noted Cuba's support for the oppressed
Palestinians, cooperation with the countries in the south and
developing countries.
Underlining mutual economic and scientific cooperation, he said
geographical distance cannot prevent expansion of mutual
relations.
The speaker of Cuba's National Assembly of Peoples' Power,
for his part, described the views of the two countries as very
close and voiced the determination of high ranking officials of
both countries to broaden and expand relations in various fields.
Referring to the existing potentials for expansion of mutual
cooperation, he said geographical distance cannot prevent
Tehran and Havana from consolidating their relations.
Highlighting the Islamic Revolution and its role in the world, he
said, "No one can tolerate despotism and both Iran and Cuba
have played an effective role to this end."
In his meeting with the Iranian First Vice President Hassan
Habibi, speaker of Parliament stressed Thursday
implementation of all signed agreements between the two
countries in all areas especially in agricultural and fisheries.
He added the members of Group 77 need to boost cooperation
in light of the pervasive globalization trend. Globalization leads to
international apartheid and the parliaments should be steadfast
in confronting the trend'' the vice president said.
Habibi also added that the Group 77 should boost activity and
increase cooperation with the Non-Aligned Movement in
important world issues.
De Quesada also met on Thursday with his Iranian counterpart
Mahdi Karrubi where he stressed expansion of all-out mutual
relations between the two countries.
The Cuban speaker expressed satisfaction over his visit to the
Islamic Republic of Iran and described his visit as being in line
with expansion of bilateral relations.
The visit is materialization of my old dreams to further
consolidate ties between Cuba and Iran. The Cuban Parliament,
he said, reflects the determination of the Cuban people and
government to consolidate and broaden relations with Iran, he
said.
