President Meets Afghan VP

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met with visiting Afghan First Vice-President Ahmad Zia Masoud here on Saturday night.

During the meeting, Ahmadinejad pointed to the struggles and campaigns waged by the Afghan nation against colonialists and enemies of Afghan people’s welfare, and called on the Afghan government, nation and political groups to increase their awareness to provide the appropriate grounds for the progress and development of that country.

Saying that security and progress of Afghanistan serve the interests of all regional countries, he underlined that neighbors of Afghanistan should assist the Afghan government with the establishment of tranquility and security in that country.

Ahmadinejad further pointed to the two nations’ historical and religious bonds, and voiced Tehran’s preparedness to provide Kabul with its experiences and valuable achievements in different fields, such as supply of energy, in a bid to help to the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Assessing the duty and role of the Afghan nation and government crucially important in the reconstruction of that country, he said that unity, tranquility, confidence and resistance are the keys to the Afghan nation’s victory.

“The Afghan nation, relying on its own potentials and capabilities, can bring about a lustrous future for that country,” the Iranian president underscored.

For his part, Afghanistan’s First Vice-President Ahmad Zia Masoud appreciated Iran’s assistances and efforts for rebuilding Afghanistan and said, “Afghans are always thankful for Iran’s help, especially during the era of hardships and difficulty in our country.”

He further called for the transfer of Iran’s valuable experiences and achievements in different fields, particularly in supply of energy and construction of power plants.”

The Afghan official viewed the plots and conspiracies devised by some foreign powers as the root cause of instability and insecurities in his country, and stated that the proper grounds would be rapidly paved for the rebuilding and progress of Afghanistan once security and stability are restored in that country.