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Official calls for regional cooperation in dealing with challenges

TEHRAN - Deputy Foreign Minister for Educational and Research Affairs Ali Ahani here on Wednesday called for expansion of cooperation among countries in the region in dealing with regional challenges.
Ahani made the remarks in a meeting with ambassadors and charge d\'affaires of Asian countries on Wednesday morning, IRNA reported.
The Islamic Republic of Iran regards energy as an instrument for development which should be safeguarded, Ahani said.
Given the role of trans-regional powers in promoting terrorism in the region and the rapid increase in the flow of narcotic drugs from Afghanistan after the presence of foreign forces, it is incumbent for the countries in the region to forge unity and cooperation to seriously deal with such issues, he said.
Categorizing terrorism into good and bad and lack of seriousness in dealing with such phenomenon by big powers helped promote terrorism in the region, he said.
Although terrorism is linked with drug trafficking to Europe, the European Union has neglected taking any serious steps to deal with it, Ahani pointed out.
Iran is ready to exchange views and broaden cooperation with countries in the region to help maintain security, he said.
Iran regards energy as a tool for development rather than a political lever, he said.
At the meeting, Ahani discussed various topics such as expansion of regional cooperation as well as global economic meltdown and the need for UN overhaul in dealing with new global developments.
Marking the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, he said that nurturing independence-seeking spirit and denouncing global hegemony was among the achievements of the Islamic Revolution.
At the meeting, the foreign ambassadors extended congratulations on the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution and underlined the need for more exchange of views and cooperation at regional and international levels to properly deal with the challenges.


Original Article: http://www.ettelaat.com/index2.asp?code=endisplay&fname=/ettelaat/etbupload/data/2009/02/02-19/9.htm&title=Official calls for regional cooperation in dealing with challenges