Ahmadinejad Departs For Benin On First Leg Of His African Tour

Tehran, April 15, IRNA – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad left Tehran for Benin in first leg of his African tour on Sunday. President is scheduled to visit three African countries of Benin, Niger and Ghana in West Africa. Speaking to reporters before leaving Tehran to start his tri-nation tour of Africa, President Ahmadinejad said here on Sunday that expansion of relations with Africa is among absolute, irrevocable and principled policies of Iran. He said cooperation with independent states is of significance for progress, promotion of potentials of the independent states, formation of the front of independent states against the colonialists, bullying powers and colonialists and promotion of cultural and political cooperation. Speaking as periodic chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, President Ahmadinejad said Iran has good and long-term relations with the African states and the ties have been growing in recent years. He added that thus far, he had visited almost half of the African states, meeting with the officials and presidents of the countries and signing many contracts with them. The president said visit to three African countries of Benin, Niger and Ghana takes place on the invitation of the three countries’ presidents and during the visits many memorandums of understanding would be signed for expansion of relations and investment in many economic, energy, power, trade, cultural and tourism domains. He noted that expansion of health and medicare relations with the three African states is among goals of the visit. He added that meetings and discussions with presidents of the countries and presence in parliaments of the states as well as meetings and talks with the elites and academics are among other goals. Ahmadinejadˈs administration has striven hard to maximize relations with the African continent during the last decade. Iran is now an observing member of the AU and has shown an active presence in previous AU summit meetings. The country is considered as one of the AUˈs strategic partners along with India, Japan, China, several South American states and Turkey, while Tehran is also believed to be prioritizing promotion of its economic and political ties with the African states./end