Iran using all efforts to end violence in Palestine, says Khatami

  
 

 

  
 

        

  
     
       Ashkhabad, April 24, IRNA -- President Mohammad Khatami here Tuesday evening reiterated that Tehran has made all effort to condemn and stop the atrocities of the Zionist regime against Palestinians while calling for a halt to the violence in the occupied territories.
     Speaking on the first day of a two-day summit of the littoral states of the Caspian Sea in Ashkhabad, Khatami said the Islamic Republic, in line with its foreign policy of peaceful coexistence, has repeatedly demanded the international community to intervene to put an end to the crisis in Palestine.
     The Iranian president left Ashkhabad on Wednesday. He added that Iran has also urged the world to pave the way for the return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland and establish an independent Palestinian state.
     Elsewhere in his remarks, President Khatami voiced pleasure over the growing trend of peace and stability in Afghanistan.
     "We believe that a feeling of cooperation in light of an atmosphere of unity could replace misunderstandings and abuses with lasting stability in Afghanistan and the region," he stressed.
     Khatami also said Iran advocates the collective effort of world countries to launch an international campaign lead by the United Nations to root out terrorism in all its forms.
     He also said Iran opposes any move to develop influence in the region under the pretext of fighting terrorism, as well as the intensification of militarism in the region.
     The Iranian president said the civilizational dialogue and the coalition for peace had provided an 'unprecedented opportunity' for countries to make a world based on peace, freedom and justice.
     The dialogue and coalition, he added, are useful tools to settle disputes through negotiations in dealing with global, and particularly the Caspian Sea issues, based on principles of cooperation and equality.
     Khatami said that, based on the same principle, Iran recognized the independence of the Central Asian states as a means towards reinforcing the sovereignty of regional countries.
     "Iran has always considered strengthening peace, stability and economic development of Central Asian countries, as well as their welfare as a priority in its foreign policy.
     "That has been the reason why Iran proposed the establishment of Caspian cooperation organization on the sidelines of the summit of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in 1992," he stressed.
     President Khatami arrived in the Turkmen capital of Ashkhabad Monday at the start of a regional tour of five Central Asian countries.
     He also attended a summit of the Caspian littoral states to discuss ways to finalize decisions on the legal regime of the sea.
     The Iranian president will also go on to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan at the invitation of the presidents of those countries and in response to their visits to Tehran.
     On his tour, Khatami is accompanied by Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, Minister of Economy and Finance Tahmasb Mazaheri, Minister of Road and Transportation Ahmad Khorram, co-chairman of the Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Economic Commission as well as a number of deputy ministers.

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