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| Iranian president pays tribute to Chavez |
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.jpg) TEHRAN – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad issued a message on Wednesday, offering condolences over the death of his Venezuelan counterpart and one of his closest allies Hugo Chavez, who died at 58 on Tuesday after a two-year battle with cancer.
In his message addressed to Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro, the country’s acting leader who was named by Chavez as his preferred successor in December 2012, Ahmadinejad paid tribute to Chavez and called him a wise, courageous, and revolutionary leader who sought to promote justice and freedom.
The Venezuelan president had supported Iran’s nuclear program, which Iran insists is for peaceful purposes but the West claims is aimed at developing the capability to build nuclear weapons.
Ahmadinejad said that the Venezuelan president was killed by a “suspicious” disease, adding that Chavez had dedicated his life to his fellow countrymen and was an anchor of the world’s revolutionaries and freedom-seeking people.
The Iranian president said that he would attend Chavez’s funeral on Friday.
The two presidents had exchanged visits in the past.
The Iranian government declared Wednesday a day of national mourning out of respect for Chavez, an outspoken critic of the United States’ foreign policy and capitalist countries.
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi also issued a message of condolence in which he called Chavez a popular and great leader who raised the hopes of the oppressed and independence-seeking nations in the world.
In addition, Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani sent a message to the President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Diosdado Cabello Rondon, and offered condolences over the death of Chavez who “opened a new chapter in the political life of Latin American countries.”
Iran hopes Tehran-Caracas ties will continue to develop
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast expressed hope that relations between the two countries would continue to develop.
From a political point of view, nothing has happened in bilateral relations, Mehmanparast said, adding, “We hope relations will remain strong and at the same level” as in the past.
The two countries have signed many cooperation agreements over the past years.
EP/PA
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| Last Updated on 06 March 2013 16:22 |