ID :
181374
Wed, 05/11/2011 - 09:54
Auther :

Iran Welcomes Formation of Regional Security Bloc

TEHRAN,May 11 (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast said Tehran welcomes proposals for the establishment of a regional security bloc since the measure will be a prelude to the pullout of the foreign military troops from the region.
Speaking to reporters during a weekly press conference here on Tuesday, Mehman-Parast welcomed a recent proposal by the Iraqi defense minister for the creation of a regional security bloc, and said, "The proposal was welcomed by the Islamic Republic of Iran's officials and we think that cooperation among the regional countries will certainly be effective in the establishment of security in the region."

"Such regional cooperation on establishment of security means that there will be no more need for the presence of the trans-regional occupying forces," he added.

Mehman-Parast mentioned that deployment of foreign forces in the regional countries merely produces insecurity, instability and other problems for the region, and underlined that the regional states themselves should find a way to further reinvigorate the security in the region.

Iran has many time urged withdrawal of foreign forces from the region, describing it as the only way to restore peace and tranquility in this part of the world.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in August that withdrawal of American forces from the region is the only way for US President Barack Obama to prove he is serious about implementing his campaign motto of change.

Ahmadinejad criticized his American counterpart for failing to realize his campaign trail promise of "change."

"They (the Americans) announced that they had pulled out part of their forces from Iraq in recent days and claimed that their move was in line with their slogan of 'change,'" Ahmadinejad said at the time.

"You said you would withdraw all your troops from Iraq, why is it that some of them are still in this country? Secondly, where are you relocating your forces from Iraq?"

"Americans want to relocate their soldiers to Afghanistan. What kind of a change in their military policy is this?"


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