PRETORIA (IRNA) -- Iran plays a strategic role in the Middle East region, South African President Thabo Mbeki said in Cape Town on Tuesday. In a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki, before he wrapped up his visit to South Africa, Mbeki assessed as important and strategic the role and situation of Iran in the Middle East and particularly in Iraq.
South Africa is seriously determined to consolidate relations with Iran in all fields and will mobilize all its potentials to materialize this goal, he said. He stressed Iran's inalienable right to access peaceful nuclear technology and expressed hope all remaining issues concerning Iran's nuclear case would be settled peacefully through negotiations.
| All they have to do is abide by the NNPT, which they signed, and let the IAEA inspect everything, which they originally promised. |
He assessed as unacceptable and inhuman the way the democratic Palestinian government is dealt with and said this intensified crisis in the Middle East region.
| As opposed to the anti-democratic Paleo gummint which is getting its just deserts. |
The Iranian foreign minister, for his part, presented a report on outcome of the meeting of Iran-South Africa Joint Cooperation Commission and on the latest developments in Iran's nuclear case. He conveyed the warm greeting of Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad to his South African counterpart and said, "Iran welcomes expansion of cooperation with African states."
| "Shorty said to tell ya hello." |
Pointing to the two sides' political determination to boost ties, he called for removal of possible obstacles to promotion of relations.
Mottaki said, "Iran's response to a package of incentives proposed by the European Union will guarantee the adoption of rational strategies and respect for Iran's inalienable rights. "Iran's response will provide a constructive way for the opposite side to continue negotiations and prepare appropriate ground. The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to immediately resume talks."
He also voiced Iran's support for the new Iraqi government, saying support for a popular government would promote stability and tranquility and accelerate withdrawal of foreign forces from the country.
| As long as it does exactly what the Medes and Persians tell them to do. |
Referring to atrocities of the Zionist regime in attacking Lebanon and the Palestinian occupied land, the minister said, "Despite a common stance between the United States and the Zionist regime and long silence of the UN Security Council, the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, achieved success in informing the world of its justice-seeking goals.
No one actually came out and said "fuel rods" Paragraph 3 and paragraph 4 should certainly be of strategic interest. I hope someone in the community is watching. |