18th Int'l confab on Persian Gulf opens in Tehran

Tehran, June 16, (IRNA) - The 18th international conference on Persian Gulf opened in Tehran on Monday with the participation of scholars and researchers from major world countries.
A number of scholars from European, Asian and African states as well as the US are attending the two-day conference which is being held at the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS).
The participants would discuss ways to promote security and stability in the Persian Gulf region through further cooperation of its littoral states.
They would also exchange views on major regional challenges including the issue of the presence of the foreign forces in the region and the way it would influence regional affairs.
"The significant role of the Persian Gulf in international relations has attracted attention of many world leaders and scientists," Deputy Foreign Minister for Training and Research Affairs, Manouchehr Mohammadi said in his address to the confab's inaugural session.
He urged the participants to focus on the Persian Gulf's major
security and political issues.
The Persian Gulf is the world's third biggest gulf, after Mexican and Hudson gulfs.
Witnessing thousands years of civilization, war, success and tragedy, the Persian Gulf is the world's most strategic waterway.