IRNA Chief: Iran Favors Powerful, Stable Tunisia

Tehran, April 17, IRNA - IRNA Managing Director Majid Omidi Shahraki said on Tuesday that Iran calls for a powerful and stable Tunisia and spares no efforts to this end. Shahraki made the remarks in a meeting with Tunisian Ambassador to Tehran Khaled Zitouni on Tuesday. In the meeting, the IRNA Chief expressed the hope that the upcoming elections in Tunisia would prepare the grounds for the country to attain more stability and authority. The Tunisian nation should be vigilant as ill-wishers spare no efforts to sow seeds of discords among free and revolutionary nations, Shahraki said. After the Tunisian revolution grounds have been prepared for expansion of relations between the two countries. Tunisia has registered a 3.5 percent economic growth which indicates that when a nation attains independence the grounds will be prepared for its development and progress, he said. People in revolutionary countries have more expectations from their officials, he said. Referring to regional developments, Shahraki said Iran is concerned about current developments in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. Every day there are sad news coming from Syria about death and injury of innocent civilian, he said. ˈWe believe that the Tunisian government never supports any specific political groups in Syria but there are certain Tunisian groups that have adopted a different approach which is a source of concern,ˈ he said. Iran is willing to open a news representative office in Tunisia, he said and called on the Tunisian embassy in Tehran and officials of that country to take necessary measures in this regard. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) is ready to put its professional experiences as well as educational facilities at the disposal of Tunisian media, he said. The Tunisian ambassador, for his part called for expansion of relations and cooperation between the two countries and underlined that the role of media to this effect is important. Lauding the stability, security and tranquility of Iran, he also thanked the Islamic Republic for its constructive efforts to restore peace and stability to the region as well as forging unity among Islamic nations. He described the current developments in Syria as very painful and said Tunisiaˈs stands is very close to that of Iran, adding that his country wants the issue to be resolved through political means./end