Iran FM in Algeria ahead of D8 meeting

Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi arrives in Algeria on a brief visit while en route to the Nigerian capital of Abuja to attend the Group of Eight Developing Countries (D8) meeting. The Iranian minister, heading a delegation, was welcomed by Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci upon his arrival in Algiers on Wednesday. The Iranian and Algerian foreign ministers lauded "good and close" relations between the two countries and stressed the importance of holding constant consultations on ways to bolster mutual ties. Salehi and Medelci also exchanged views on latest developments in North Africa and called for continuation of talks on regional issues. The Iranian minister is scheduled to take part in the 14th foreign ministerial meeting of D8 member countries in Abuja on Thursday. The D8 member states consists of Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt, Bangladesh and Indonesia. The group was established in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 15, 1997. The objectives of D8 are to improve the position of developing countries in the world economy, diversify and create new opportunities in trade relations, enhance participation in decision-making at the international level, and provide better standards of living. Salehi's visit is taking place after he wrapped up a two-leg European tour of Slovenia and Austria. On the first leg of his European trip, Salehi paid a day-long visit to the Slovenian capital city of Ljubljana on Monday. He held talks with Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Zbogar on ways to improve mutual relations and the latest developments in the Middle East and North Africa as well as leading international issues, including human rights. He also inaugurated the Islamic Republic's first embassy in Ljubljana. Following his visit to Slovenia, the Iranian minister arrived in the Austrian capital city of Vienna on Tuesday. While in Vienna, Salehi held separate meetings with senior Austrian officials including Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger and members of the country's parliament. He also met with Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) Tibor Toth and Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). He also held talks with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amano. During the hour-long meeting, the two sides agreed to establish a new mechanism to help resolve outstanding issues pertaining to Iran's nuclear issue.