FARS NEWS AGENCY
Monday, December 27, 2010
TEHRAN (FNA)- Caretaker of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Ali Akbar Salehi on Monday stressed Tehran's support for the establishment of peace and stability in Somalia.
Speaking in a meeting with Somali Parliament Speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden here in Tehran on Monday, Salehi stated, "Somalia is an important country to us, and it can prove an influential country in the region if it experiences tranquility."
"The Islamic Republic of Iran is at the service of the people and government of Somalia and we are ready to help Somalia restore peace and stability through the African Union or IGAD (the Intergovernmental Authority on Development)," the Iranian minister noted.
Salehi pointed to the negative role and impacts of foreign interference in intensified crisis in Somalia, and added, "I am confident that the people of Somalia can resolve their internal problems without foreign interference."
The Somali parliament speaker, for his part, thanked Iran's humanitarian aids to his African state, and lauded the strong and historical ties between the two countries.
Tehran has prioritized promotion of its economic and political ties with Africa and the country is now considered as one of the African Union's strategic partners.
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has frequently blamed colonialist powers for continued insecurity and instability in Somalia and a number of Islamic states.
"Colonialist governments do not want to see (establishment of) security and tranquility in Islamic states, specially in Somalia which enjoys a very sensitive geographical position," Ahmadinejad said in a meeting with Somalia's Foreign Minister Ahmad Ali Jangeli on the sidelines of 'Iran-Africa Forum' in Tehran in September.
Source: FNA