MP: Dialog Can End Bloodshed In Syria

Tehran, May 20, IRNA -- Head of the Islamic Parliamentˈs National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaˈeddin Boroujerdi said here Sunday that holding national dialogue in Syria can put an end to massacre of the innocent people and bloodshed there. Boroujerdi made the comment in a meeting with a top Advisor of New Zealand Prime Minister, Tim Webster. The two countriesˈ officials emphasized the need for expansion and strengthening of bilateral ties and cooperation in the Meeting. Boroujerdi said, ˈThere are appropriate fields for political, economic, and cultural cooperation between Iran and New Zealand, among which the expansion of parliamentary relations can pave the path for taking advantage of the entire other potentials, as well.ˈ The Head of Iranian Islamic Parliamentˈs National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, furthermore, referred to the ongoing developments in the region and particularly the Syrian crisis, adding, ˈThe miscalculations and wrong analyses of the United States and its regional allies about the downfall of the Syrian government have led to the emergence of a full-scale regional crisis.ˈ He reiterated, ˈSince the military project in Syria has led to defeat, the two sidesˈ political negotiations can lead to putting an end to the bloodshed there.ˈ Elsewhere in his talks, Boroujerdi referred to the imposed sanctions against Iran, saying, ˈThese sanctions have provided opportunities for scientific and technological advancements in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Iranian nation that has ever since the victory of the Islamic Revolution been under the pressure of the illogical sanctions of world powers, but the nation has wisely managed these threats and changed them and turned them into opportunities.ˈ According to the Public Relations office of the Islamic Parliament, Majlis, the top New Zealand official Tim Webster, too, in the meeting noted that New Zealand attaches great importance to improving the level of its ties with the Asian countries, including the Islamic Republic of Iran as one of the main proprieties in its foreign diplomacy. The two sides also stressed the need for exchanging parliamentary delegations between New Zealand and Iran. New Zealand has had an Embassy in Tehran since 1975, making it New Zealandˈs longest-standing mission in the Middle East. In the year to June 2007 New Zealand exports to Iran were worth NZ$129.95 million, with butter, milk powder and wool being the major export commodities./end