Iran's Majlis (parliament) Speaker Mehdi Karrubi said Tehran on Saturday that expanded cooperation between Iran and France on the economic and political fields will contribute to the mutual interest of both nations, the Radio Payam reported.
During a meeting with visiting French Cooperation Minister Charles Josselin, Karrubi noted that such cooperation is based on Iran's unique position in the Middle East and France's decisive role in the European Union (EU).
Referring to the Afghanistan issue, Karrubi said that the world society should give a hand to restore peace and security by establishing a multi-ethnic government in the war-shattered country.
The Iranian speaker called for international assistance to the Afghan people and help to repatriate the Afghan refugees from neighboring countries.
For his part, Josselin said France is keen to expand political, economic and culture cooperation with Iran.
The French minister was quoted by the radio as saying that France "views injustice as the root of terrorism," adding his country shares similar views with Iran on various regional and international issues.
He said Iran plays a "key role" in establishing peace and stability in the region, and spoke highly of Iran's humanitarian aid to the Afghan refugees.
Josselin, who arrived Tehran Friday night from Uzbekistan, is scheduled to confer with Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi and other high-ranking Iranian officials on the latest developments of the situation in Afghanistan and bilateral ties.
(China Daily November 26, 2001)
