Iran, Lanka for global action to combat terror
Iran and Sri Lanka have condemned terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations and emphasized the need for enhanced international
cooperation to eliminate this global menace following bilateral talks
between the two sides, the Foreign Ministry said.
A joint statement issued at the end of President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad's visit to Sri Lanka said: "The Iranian side expressed its
support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Sri
Lanka and welcomed the positive political steps taken to end the
conflict through negotiations, leading to a durable settlement,
acceptable to all the people of Sri Lanka.
Iranian President Dr. Ahmadinejad held wide-ranging discussions with
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, attended by Ministers and senior officials
of both sides. The discussions which took place in a cordial atmosphere,
were detailed and substantive, covering issues of bilateral, regional
and global interest.
Both Presidents, while noting with satisfaction the progress achieved
in bilateral relations, stressed their firm commitment to further
enhance mutual cooperation in the political, economic, trade, cultural,
educational, scientific and technological fields. The discussions
reaffirmed the close and friendly ties that exist between Sri Lanka and
Iran.
The two Presidents briefed each other on issues of common interest
and current developments in their respective countries.
The Sri Lankan side supported the peaceful use of nuclear energy by
Iran, within the framework of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and under the supervision of the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The two sides confirmed the full and non-discriminatory
implementation of Article IV of the NPT on peaceful nuclear
co-operation. The two sides reiterated the importance of global nuclear
disarmament, particularly the need for the nuclear powers to destroy
their nuclear weapons, based on the decisions of the relevant
international meetings.
The two sides expressed their deep concern over the violence against
the Palestinian people in the Palestinian territories and recognized the
inalienable rights and the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian
people at the highest level, and will continue to express their
solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Both sides also expressed the hope that the differences among the
different groups in Palestine will be resolved amicably.
The two sides, stressing the need for the consolidation of national
unity and understanding, peaceful co-existence and the preservation of
the stability, security and peace in Lebanon, supported initiatives
among different Lebanese parties through consensus and the participation
of all Lebanese political groups in the process of deciding all issues
of concern, as the only way out of the current crisis in Lebanon.
Both sides emphasized the need for the preservation of the
territorial integrity and unity of Iraq and the participation of all
Iraqi groups in the political process and expressed their support for
the efforts of the elected Iraqi government to restore security and
stability in Iraq.
The two sides expressed concern over the escalation of insecurity and
instability in Afghanistan, and supported, as a matter of priority, the
endeavour by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for
the restoration of peace and stability.
The two sides underscored the potential for expansion of bilateral
economic co-operation, which would greatly strengthen the existing bonds
of friendship and co-operation between the two countries and be
conducive to the common progress and prosperity of the peoples of Iran
and Sri Lanka, inter alia, by encouraging the private sectors of both
countries to invest in each other.
Recalling the visit of President Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka to
Iran in November 2007, and the Agreements and MOUs reached between the
two countries in the areas of power supply and irrigation as well as the
expansion of the oil refinery facility in Sri Lanka, both sides
expressed their deep satisfaction at the ceremonial inauguration of the
Uma Oya multi purpose development project and the Sapugaskanda oil
refinery project respectively, with the assistance of the Government of
the Islamic Republic of Iran, during the visit of the President of Iran
to Sri Lanka.
Both sides also noted with satisfaction, the conclusion several MOUs
and Agreements during the visit of the President of Iran to Sri Lanka. |