Laos Supports Iran-IAEA Talks

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Laotian deputy foreign minister voiced his country’s strong support for the current talks between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Buou Pal made the remarks in a meeting with Iran’s Accredited Ambassador to Laos Mohsen Pak Ayeen on Friday.

During the meeting, the Iranian diplomat pointed to the positive report by IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei on Iran’s nuclear programs, and said, “The recent report showed that the Islamic Republic of Iran has not violated the Agency’s regulations, therefore, there is no excuse for the verification of the issue at the (UN) Security Council.”

Pak Ayeen described the UN nuclear watchdog agency as the only legal authority to deal with the country’s nuclear activities, and reiterated that the responsibility for the verification of Iran’s case should be entrusted to the IAEA.

The envoy further conveyed a message to Buou Pal from Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki to his Laotian counterpart.

Elsewhere in the meeting, he noted the two countries’ joint interests and ideals, and voiced Tehran’s preparedness to expand ties and cooperation with Laos, given the existing abundant potentials in the said regard.

Pak Ayeen also briefed the Laotian official about the latest trend of developments at the Asian Parliaments Assembly (APA).

For his part, Buou Pal voiced his country’ strong support for Iran-IAEA talks, saying, “We underline our strong support for the talks between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency and we are optimistic about future.”

He noted the short life of fossil energy resources, and said that his country has just started surveys and studies to replace present energy resources with the nuclear energy.

“Owing to shrinking oil reserves and soaring world oil prices, developing countries have no way out but utilizing civilian nuclear technology,” the deputy foreign minister of Laos stressed.

He further viewed Iran as an important and powerful country in the region, and expressed the hope that the Iran-Laos trade exchanges and cooperation would bolster and promote through exchange of views and consultations between the two countries’ foreign ministers.

Buou Pal also underlined the need for the Asian parliaments to increase coordination to materialize the goals pursued by the APA.

“Laos can play an effective role in the convergence of Asian parliaments,” he added.

He also called on APA member states to turn the continental legislative body into a dynamic and efficient institution in Asia.