Iran Needs No Intermediaries in Expanding Ties with Africa

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iran is a country which does not need any intermediary for developing its relations with African nations, said the head of African Union in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in Ethiopia on Wednesday.

A statement released by the Foreign Ministry’s Information and Press Bureau said that also during the meeting, the Iranian foreign minister pointed to Africa’s movement towards reconstruction and integrated utilization of extensive political, cultural and economic potentials, and voiced Tehran’s decisiveness to expand cooperation with the African continent, in economic grounds in particular.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that combination of the ample mines and resources existing on the African continent and Iran’s technology and experience, can serve the interests of both sides,” Mottaki stressed.

He also mentioned, “In addition to our bilateral ties with the African states, we believe that Iran’s relations with the African Union can play a constructive and useful role in consolidating our ties with Africa.”

For his part, head of the African Union noted Iran’s desirable ties with African countries, and underlined that Iran, as a big and powerful country in Asia, has special standing in Africa, reminding that Iran’s presence in all the AU summits indicates the very same fact.

“We appreciate that Iran has always conveyed a message to our AU summits,” he continued.

Noting Iran’s position, he also said, “Iran is a country which does not need any intermediary for expanding its ties with Africa.”

The AU head also appreciated Iran’s diplomatic efforts to settle disputes and conflicts between some African states.

Also during the meeting, Mottaki conveyed a message from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the head of the African Union.