Ex-Japanese PM Departs For Tehran

Tehran, April 7, IRNA – Deputy Foreign Minister in Asia, Pacific and Common wealth Affairs said here that senior advisor to head of Japan's Democratic ruling Party and a member of parliament Yukio Hatoyama has departed for Tehran to talk with Iranian senior officials. Abbas Araqchi told IRNA on Friday that Hatoyama, who was Japan's prime minister until June 2010, is to meet with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and discuss issues of mutual interest with him during his 2-day visit to Tehran. Hatoyama is scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili. He is also scheduled to discuss and exchange views with Abbas Araqchi. Araqchi added that international and regional issues and Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities are among the issues of negotiation with Iranian senior officials. Japan Democratic Party under leadership of Yukio Hatoyama defeated Liberal Democrat Party in year 2009 and ended 50 years of its dominance./end