Iran President to Latin America

IRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is set to start a Latin American tour that will take him to Brazil, Venezuela and Ecuador, seeking to boost bilateral cooperation, an official source reported.

IranA's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on national television that AhmadinejadA's tour will begin late this week.

He will visit nations which Tehran has a fluid and close level of exchange with, the official said.

Ahmadinejad will discuss ways to develop relations and issues of common interest, the diplomat stated. As to Venezuela, the statesman will encourage cooperation and monitor already-signed accords, as well as the establishment of a joint fund for cooperation and investments in a third country.

The Iranian president expects to meet again in Caracas with his Venezuelan peer Hugo Chavez, who visited Iran in early April.

In Quito, he will personally congratulate his President Rafael Correa for his re-election win.

The visit to Brazil, Iranian diplomats pointed out, will be the first by an Iranian head of State in 30 years, and this will foster dynamic and profitable links for both countries.

AhmadinejadA's entourage will include 110 representatives from 65 national companies from oil, gas, petrochemical, agricultural, food, automobile and construction sectors.

Before the official visit to South America, Ahmadinejad will meet in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, to also ink memorandums of cooperation in several fields, and analyze the bilateral, regional and world situation. -

Tehran, Prensa Latina