Parliament Speaker: India, Iran and China can contribute to lasting regional security

Islamic Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said here Monday in a meeting with his Indian counterpart, “Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of India, and People’s Republic of China can contribute to establishment of sustainable regional security. According to IRNA’s dispatched reporter to the 125th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in Bern, Switzerland, Larijani added in the meeting on the sidelines of the assembly, “India is one of the most important trade partners of Iran and the people have a positive outlook about India, due to the background of the two countries’ cultural relations.” He emphasized that some Indian personalities, such as Mahatma Gandhi are very valuable for the Iranian nation, reiterating, “We do not consider our relations with India as tactical ties.” Larijani meanwhile referred to the wave of democracy-seeking which has begun in the regional countries, criticized the US policies in the region, and particularly in Afghanistan, in which the NATO, despite its claims, has not only contributed no help to the progress of Afghanistan, but also constructed US military bases there.” The Indian Parliament Speaker, Meira Kumar, too, referring to the activities of the Iran and India Friendship Group at the Iranian Majlis, said, “We too, have established the Iran Friendship Group at the Indian Parliament, aimed at expansion of relations with Iran.” Ms. Kumar reiterated, “In the field of bilateral trade, too, keeping in mind the high potentials, there is lots of work to be done.” She referred to the presence of a large number of Iranian university students in India, arguing, “It is a pride for us that they have chosen India for their higher studies, and we, too, are after increasing the number of scholarships for our students in Iran.” The Indian Parliament Speaker emphasized that close bilateral cooperation would be effective in campaign against terrorism, saying, “No country can fight against terrorism all by itself.” She reiterated, “The security of Afghanistan is an important matter both for Iran and for India.” Meira Kumar also informed Larijani of her upcoming visit of Iran atop a parliamentary delegation, expressing hope that the visit would contribute to the expansion of bilateral ties and to broader cooperation between Tehran and New Delhi. Ali Larijani expressed delight hearing the news on the Indian Parliament Speaker’s visit of Iran and said that she would be most welcome, expressing hope that it would not be a short visit, so that she and her accompanying delegation would have a chance to also visit the Iranian historic cities personally as the Islamic Republic’s special guests of honor.