Iranian Diplomats Stress Importance of Detente Policy

August 23, 1999 - 0:0
TEHRAN Iranian diplomats abroad here Saturday reviewed new ways to implement the policy of detente and confidence building between Iran and other countries. According to Foreign Ministry's Information and press department, the participants in the meeting termed the detente policy of the government of President Mohammad Khatami as very positive and successful. They also referred to dialog as an Islamic and humane method to remove the possible problems and misunderstandings between different countries.

The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that each one of the regional countries is capable of gaining its legitimate, regional and international interests through dialog, the Iranian diplomats noted. Meanwhile, the participants underlined the need to safeguard the achievements of May 23 presidential elections at international arena, the report added. They also stressed on the importance of agreements reached between Iran and Saudi Arabia and Qatar during President Khatami's visits to those countries which were turning points in relations between the Islamic Republic and other regional countries.

The Iranian diplomats further discussed expansion of economic, political, military and parliamentary relations between Iran and regional states including formation of joint economic commissions, increase in volume of bilateral trade, joint investment and cooperation between the two sides private sectors as well as removing the probable obstacles in the way of promotion of bilateral relations. Continuation of activities of Iranian nationals residing in the Persian Gulf littoral states within the framework of those countries' rules and regulations were also stressed in the meeting.

Formation of border committees, anti-narcotic campaign and extradition of convicts were among other issues reviewed in the meeting. Over 120 heads of Iranian diplomatic missions abroad are attending the one-week gathering which was inaugurated here Monday. In another meeting on Saturday they reviewed and discussed performance and programs of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), particularly during Iran's current presidency over the organization.

During the meeting, attempts made by Iran to bring united points of view among the Islamic states concerning principal issues, promotion of the role played by the Islamic Republic of Iran in the OIC and world of Islam and presentation of a more active role by the Organization of the Islamic Conference were discussed. The OIC currently has 56 member states and its provisional secretariat pending the liberation of the holy Qods, is based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The week-long meeting of Iranian ambassadors which began here on Monday will wind up today.