DUSHANBE, march 16, 2009, Asia-Plus – Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Saturday that foreign ministers of Persian-speaking countries will meet later this year to discuss Navrouz celebrations which marks the start of the new Iranian year.
Mottaki made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Uzbek Deputy Foreign Minister Anwar Salehbayov in Tehran on Saturday, according to IRNA.
According to Press and Information Bureau of the Foreign Ministry, at the meeting, Mottaki felicitated the Uzbek minister on the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and on Navrouz holidays.
He said that foreign ministers of Persian language speaking countries (Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan) are to attend a meeting in Afghanistan later this year to pursue the plan initiated by Tajikistan last year to help promote Navrouz celebrations.
Topics such as transit of goods, energy and terrorism are among the concerns of the countries in the region; Mottaki said adding that the opportunity could create grounds for exchange of views and experiences among participating countries.
Promotion of constant developments in the region requires strengthening of transportation system mainly the rail track, he said.
On campaign against drug trafficking, he said the phenomenon claims lives of many youths and this seeks collective contribution of regional countries to fight with, he said.
“Unfortunately, western countries have promoted the ideas of extremism and terrorism through their wrong policies and approaches,” Mottaki said.
Tehran and Tashkent could help deepen mutual ties and cooperation in various fields, said the Iranian foreign minister.
Uzbek deputy foreign minister, for his part, felicitated Mottaki on the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and Navrouz holidays and said, “Uzbekistan is very capable of promoting and deepening mutual relations and cooperation in the fields of rail tracks, transfer of energy and exchange of goods between the two countries.”
The two officials held constructive talks on easing red-tapes for issuing visa, railway transportation and increase in the volume of trade exchanges between the two countries.
“We also believe that western countries have adopted a wrong policy in dealing with drug trafficking and extremism which is a source of concern in the central and west of Asia,” he said.
He voiced his country”s willingness to further bolster and broaden ties with Iran and expressed the hope to witness further expansion of ties between the two nations.
