Salehi Meets With Namibia President Pohamba

Tehran, Jan 31, IRNA – Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Salehi met and conferred with Republic of Namibia’s President Hifikepunye Pohamba on sidelines of African Union Summit Monday evening in Addis Ababa. According to the information website of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Monday night, Salehi in his meeting with Pohamba elaborated on the achievements and experiences of the country in the industrial, scientific, technological, and pharmaceutical fields. Salehi announced Tehran’s readiness for comprehensive cooperation with Namibia. Salehi also elaborated on Iran’s stand and viewpoint on cooperation with the African continent countries. Salehi also informed the Namibian president of the opening of an Iranian embassy in Namibia’s capital city, Windhoek, in the near future following a process of diplomatic work by both countries’ foreign apparatuses. Pohamba, for his part, evaluated the process of bilateral relations as positive, stressing the need for expanding cooperation, in particular in the industrial and oil fields, keeping in mind Namibia’s need for construction of an oil refinery, for which Windhoek count’s on Tehran’s assistance, cooperation, and investment. Namibia has rich uranium mines and the Namibian government is in full agreement with Iran on the point that the west’s antagonist position on Iran’s totally peaceful nuclear program is fully politically motivated. Salehi was in Ethiopia to attend the 18th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) which was held on Jan 29-30. He had met with other high-ranking officials from different countries and negotiated various mutual issues. Salehi represented Iran at the summit as an observing member./end