TEHRAN Members of the Foreign Ministry's Consular Committee here Thursday underlined the necessity for speeding up consular affairs of Iranian nationals abroad. According to the Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department, members of the committee which is one of the working committees of the annual gathering of Iran's political representatives abroad, discussed problems of Iranian nationals residing abroad and tourists. The committee also discussed avenues for facilitation of travel of Iranians residing abroad to their home country to further strengthen cultural bonds between them and their country.

Avenues to foster the identity and faith to the Islamic Iranian culture of the second generation of the Iranians abroad and better use of social, cultural and economic capabilities of the Iranians abroad for economic renovation and political development were among other issued discussed in the committee. Members of the committee also underlined the need to facilitate issuance of visa for foreign tourists and upgrading of their welfare and security needs in Iran. The week-long annual gathering of Iran's political representatives abroad started its work Monday with the speech of President Mohammad Khatami. (IRNA)