President Ahmadinejad: Iran-Benin Support Peace For All Nations

Cotonou, Benin, April 15, IRNA – Visiting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran said here Sunday that Benin and Iran support peace, progress and security for all world nations. The President made the remarks during a dinner banquet held in his honor Sunday evening by President Thomas Yayi Boni of Benin. Cotonou is the largest city and economic capital of Benin. It is the de facto capital of the country; officially, Porto-Novo is the capital. President Ahmadinejad also said that Iran and Benin favored justice, freedom and dignity for all nations of the world. ˈTehran believes that international relations should be based on mutual respect and justiceˈ President Ahmadinejad added. He stressed that officials of Iran and Benin held ˈintensiveˈ and ˈusefulˈ talks on bilateral cooperation and relations. Earlier on Sunday, the two presidents discussed major bilateral, regional and international developments. President Ahmadinejad arrived in Benin Sunday afternoon on the first leg of his three-nation African tour which would later take him to Niger and Ghana. He is accompanied by a number of Iranian ministers including Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Akbar Salehi. Speaking upon arrival in Cotonou, the Iranian president had said expansion of bilateral ties with African states was significant for Tehran. He is to proceed to Niger this afternoon after signing several agreements on bilateral cooperation with Beninˈs officials./end