Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific and the Commonwealth affairs Abbas Araqchi expressed Tehran’s firm resolve to defend its nuclear energy rights in a meeting with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday, IRNA reported.
The Iranian official extended President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s invitation to Sheikh Hasina to attend the 16th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), slated to be held in Tehran on August 26-31.
He pointed to the NAM’s significance and position in international equations at the current juncture and stressed unity and integrity among the movement’s member states to achieve common goals and ideals.
Hasina, for her part, said the NAM played a crucial role in tackling international challenges and expressed her country’s determination to participate in the Tehran summit.
During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the expansion of mutual relations and regional and international developments, including human rights and the fight against narcotics.
In another meeting with Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday, the Iranian deputy foreign minister denounced the West’s dual attitude towards the issue of human rights.
He also called for cooperation between Iran and Sri Lanka in international circles.
Araqchi voiced Tehran’s readiness to bolster cooperation with Kotte in different fields such as dam construction, the electricity industry and technical and engineering services.
He extended an invitation by President Ahmadinejad to the Sri Lankan head of state to take part in the 16th NAM summit in Tehran.
Rajapaksa said the West pursues a politically-motivated attitude to the human rights issue.
He also called for the expansion of ties with Iran in all fields, particularly in the economic sector.
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An Iranian deputy foreign minister says the West’s attempts to apply pressure and impose sanctions against Tehran are “unfair and illogical” behavior, which has failed.
News ID 181878
