Monday, December 05, 2016
AMRITSAR (BNA) Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif emphasized the importance of improving security in Afghanistan, saying that security and stability are key to ensuring prosperity in the war-hit country and the region.
“A secure and stable Afghanistan is vital to the prosperity of the Heart of Asia region,” Zarif said Sunday at the 6th Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia Process in India’s northern city of Amritsar. Expressing the Islamic Republic’s readiness to help restore peace in Afghanistan, he said, “We continue to fully support the National Unity Government and we stand ready to work along with its leaders to help them discharge their responsibilities.” The top Iranian diplomat arrived in Amritsar, in the state of Punjab, after attending a meeting of Iranian and Indian business people and delivering a speech to a gathering of Indian intellectuals in New Delhi on Saturday. Held on the theme of “Addressing Challenges, Achieving Prosperity”, the Heart of Asia Conference explores ways to effectively deal with the threat of terrorism in the region, with a focus on Afghanistan. Senior officials from 14 member countries, including China and Russia, and representatives of 17 supporting nations attended the conference to discuss the issues facing the region.
