Peace, Security In Afghanistan To Be Discussed In Almaty: Iran FM

Tehran, April 27, IRNA – Iran's FM Ali-Akbar Salehi said on Friday that establishment of peace and security in Afghanistan and withdrawal of foreign forces from the country will be discussed in Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference. Upon his arrival in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to attend the third Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan, Salehi said that during the conference Iran will discuss expansion of ties among regional countries. Salehi added that today he will voice his opposition to the presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan. Since Afghan nation will be directly involved in guaranteeing their security after 2014, the presence of foreign forces in the country is not justified any more, Salehi said. He said that on the sidelines of the conference he will hold meetings with a number of his counterparts. On Iran-Kazakhstan ties he said that the two countries are expanding bilateral trade and economic relations. He hailed Almaty nuclear talks between Iran and the G5+1 and called on the EU Foreign Policy Chief to announce the result of her consultations with the capitals of the six major powers. He expressed hope that the G5+1 would avoid prolonging the negotiations and come back to talks at the earliest./end