IRNA Chief: Relying On Foreigners Will Result In Instability

Tehran, July 2, IRNA – Presidential Advisor for Press Affairs, Ali Akbar Javanfekr, said that every government should be the main supporter of its own people and relying on foreign powers will result in instability. Javanfekr, managing director of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), made the remarks in a meeting with the visiting Afghan presidential advisor, Youef Vaezi Shahrestani, in Tehran on Sunday. He said that Iran and Afghanistan are two friendly and neighbor countries. “The more people of the neighboring countries have welfare and enjoy tranquility, the more Iranians will have access to welfare and peace,” Javanfekr added. He noted that without stability, no one can make progress and make planning or take long-term decisions. IRNA’s chief emphasized stability and security of Afghanistan. Referring to the fact that development of Afghanistan for remedying the backwardness should be expedited, Javanfekr pointed out that religious scholars and intellectuals of Afghanistan should play key roles in stability, security and progress of Afghanistan. He described the Afghan nation as active, energetic, and the ones who challenge enemies. “Some people and countries are trying to portray a picture of Afghan people which is harmful to them in that way,” IRNA managing director added. Javanfekr emphasized that the governments of Iran and Afghanistan should confront drug gangs and terrorist groups along the common borders of Iran and Afghanistan. Recalling numerous historical, cultural and religious commonalities between Iranian and Afghan people, as well as sharing Persian language, IRNA managing director noted that Iran and Afghanistan are very close to each other in cultural terms and even in some cases, the cultures of both countries are even exactly similar. “The enemies are trying to create obstacles in the way of Iran helping Afghan brothers through sowing the seed of discord, but their efforts are in vain,” Javanfekr added. Afghan presidential advisor, Yousef Vaezi Shahrestani, for his part said that the situation in Afghanistan is not comparable to before and security conditions in qualitative and quantitative terms has considerably improved. Referring to approval of a strategic pact between Afghanistan and US, as well as concerns by Afghan elite about the contents of the pact, President Karzai’s advisor said that violating territorial integrity and ignoring national sovereignty are main concerns of Afghan people. Vaezi Shahrestani said that after massacre of Shia Muslims during the rule of Taliban in Bamian and Mazar-e Sharif, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei issued a message for Afghan Shias which was very important. The Afghan official noted that it is very good that there are currently no difference between Shia and Sunni Muslims./end