Iran calls London Declaration 'self-granted guardianship'

Tehran, Jan 31, IRNA – Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman called the final declaration of the meeting on Afghanistan in London, a "self-granted guardianship", adding that it has assigned hard duties for resolving Afghanistan's problems.

According to the report of the Foreign Ministry Media Department on Saturday, Ramin Mihman-Parast, by expressing regret over the conclusions of the declaration, said they are a "self-granted guardianship" and contradicts with national sovereignty and independence of the countries.

Mihman-Parast criticized the selective approach toward terrorism in the London declaration and called it as an indication of weakness of alien forces to solve Afghanistan problem and an effort to deviate world and the region public opinion from the failure of their policies.

The spokesman, by referring to the published declaration of British Foreign Ministry on Iran's absence in the meeting, said that it has no effect on Iran’s position in solving Afghanistan problems.

He underlined the negative role of British government in solving Afghanistan problems like fight against drug smuggling as well as their efforts to reach a compromise with the extremists.

Mihman-Parast said that UK and some other countries played games to approve a declaration about Afghanistan issues which was in contradiction with Iran’s stances.

He called these stances establishment of peace, stability, fight against cultivation and smuggling of drugs, lack of selective approaches toward terrorism and economic growth for Afghanistan.

The spokesman said Iran did not attend London meeting because of these different viewpoints.

He added Iran believes a regional approach is the most appropriate one for solving Afghanistan problems .

The spokesman said that Iran initiated regional meetings, especially trilateral meetings of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan in different levels and will continue this policy./end