Islamic Republic News
Agency May 21, 2001.
Tehran, May 21, IRNA -- The visits to Tehran of Cuban Leader Fidel
Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will help Iran further broaden its
relations with Latin America, foreign ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Assefi
told a Tehran press conference Monday.
"We give an upbeat assessment of the two visits and maintain that
they would serve the interests of all sides," Assefi said.
Castro made a landmark three-day visit to Iran from May 7-10, the first
by the 76-year-old Cuban leader during his 41-year rule to Tehran.
Iran and Cuba are arch foes of the U.S and under its imposed unilateral
sanctions.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been in Iran since Friday as part
of a three-week tour of seven nations -- including Russia, Indonesia, Malaysia
and China. Chavez, on his second visit to Iran in less than a year, is leading
a high-ranking delegation that includes several ministers, as well as the head
of the national oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela.
Venezuela currently holds the rotating presidency of the Organization of
Petroleum Exporting Countries in which Iran is the second-largest producer after
Saudi Arabia.
"Given the membership of Iran, Cuba and Venezuela to the Group of
77 developing countries and Non-Aligned Movement, it is natural that they can
cooperate in different fields," Assefi said.
"Iran's foreign policy centers on cooperation with all countries
and expansion of cooperation with neighbors, Europe, Muslim nations and the
Latin America," he said. | 