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Kabul, Aug 13, IRNA -- President Mohammad Khatami said here on Tuesday that Tehran believes restoration of security and stability to Afghanistan would guarantee security and stability in Iran as well and prepare the ground for the two countries' development.
Khatami said at the end of his official talks with Head of Afghan transitional government Hamid Karzai that Iran has always stressed the importance of stability in Afghanistan both at bilateral and international talks and in its talks with the United Nations.
He said that security would be established in Afghanistan only by strengthening the Afghan central government through confidence building between the government and the Afghan nation.
He stressed the need for unity among all ethnic groups in Afghanistan, saying it is necessary to reinforce bonds among all Afghan ethnic groups.
"As representative of the Iranian nation, which has always stood by the Afghan nation and strived for its freedom, independence and progress, I ask all Jihadi groups, factions and parties to help the Karzai government bring prosperity and development to the country," said Khatami.
Iran's Chief Executive said Afghanistan should be built by Afghan men and women with assistance from the government and that progress of the country should not be used as a means for making compromise with any government.
Touching on the Loya Jirga-- Afghanistan's Council of Elders- meeting, which represents traditional democracy in the country, Khatami said the present government in Afghanistan is welcomed and supported by all Afghan groups and nation. He stressed the need for reliance on common bonds and points.
He said Islam is the pillar of the culture that can guarantee unity. He added, "We want the kind of Islam which calls for progress in religious, scientific and technical fields."
Elsewhere in his remarks, President Khatami hailed the heroic resistance of Afghan combatants in defending their country's causes and aspirations.
He deplored terrorist acts in Afghanistan, which resulted in assassination of one of the ministers of the Afghan transitional government. He expressed hope that the terrorist acts, perpetrated in absence of logic, would not derail the Afghan government and nation from their path.
Ahmad Shah Masood was a symbol of the Afghan nation's vigilance in its efforts to attain freedom and independence, said Khatami.
He called for further expansion of mutual cooperation in different fields and following up the agreements already reached in a meeting between him and Karzai.
Karzai for his part thanked Iran for its support for the transitional government, holding of Loya Jirgah and transitional government and said it would pave the way for further links and cooperation between Tehran and Kabul.
He also thanked the Iranian government and nation for hosting Afghan refugees and expressed hope that conditions would be prepared for return of Afghan refugees to their homeland.
The two sides also exchanged views on mutual financial and commercial cooperation, dispute over sharing of Hirmand river, campaign against drug smuggling, energy supply and certain other issues.
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