President calls for NAM's active role in regional, int’l issues

Tehran, Feb 8, IRNA – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday urged Non-Aligned Movement member-states to play a more active role in regional and international domains hand-in-hand. He made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Foreign Minister of Venezuela Delcy Rodríguez and the country’s Petroleum Minister Nelson Martinez. Rouhani said, “Development of relations with Latin American countries is of great importance for Islamic Republic.” Tehran is interested in development and deepening of relations with Latin American countries, including Venezuela, in various political, economic and cultural areas, he added. The President said that it is necessary that independent states, in particular the NAM countries, rely on their people and stand united against unilateralism, extremism and violence. Rouhani pointed to Iran-Venezuela similar stance towards international issues and said, “Independence and resistance towards countries that are seeking unilateralism in the world are principles of Iran and Venezuela foreign policy as two sovereign states.” He also referred to OPEC member states’ successful step in Algeria, and said that it is necessary for the OPEC countries to stabilize the oil price at a fair point in a way that realize the interests of both producers and consumers. During the meeting, the Venezuelan foreign minister conveyed the written message of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to Rouhani. Caracas is committed to deepen all-out ties with Tehran, the official added. Referring to the Algeria agreement for stabilizing the oil price, he said, “All oil producing countries should do their best to balance the oil market and stabilize the oil price by precise implementation of Algeria agreement.” 1378/IRNA