Mottaki hopes US statesmen will not toe line of predecessors

Mottaki hopes US statesmen will not toe line of predecessors

Tehran, Feb 22, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that the region is experiencing new developments and hoped that the new US statesmen will not toe the line of their predecessors.

According to a report by the ministry's Press and Information Department, Mottaki said in a meeting with the outgoing ambassadors of Venezuela and India that extremism as an overwhelming problem and added that the phenomenon is not in the interest of any of the regional country.

Addressing Venezuela's envoy, Arthur Gallegos, he recalled that the history of Iran's ties with Latin America dates back to more than 50 years.

However, he said, the peoples of Iran and Latin America have gotten to know each other in the new rounds of the relations.

Iran-Venezuela ties are based on mutual respect, he said, adding that Hugo Chavez's victory in the recent elections as a success for the Venezuelans.

He also told the outgoing Indian Ambassador Manbir Singh that Tehran-Delhi share common interests and concerns.

"Plans for developing ties should be more accurate and practical," he said.

The two outgoing ambassadors announced that Iranian institutions assisted them in their missions and they are leaving with good memories of Iran.

They further added that they will remain a friend for Iran forever.

@IRNA