Iran's fm in Abuja to attend D8 ministerial assembly

Abuja, July 6, IRNA – Iran’s foreign minister arrived here late Monday night to participate in the ministerial assembly of the Developing 8 Islamic countries.

Manouchehr Mottaki is scheduled to address the D8 ministerial assembly in Abuja on Tuesday. He will present proposals aimed at expansion of relations among member countries.

The D8 assembly is going to prepare its final declaration which would be ratified at the 7th D8 Summit respectively.

Among the issues to be discussed at the assembly is investments among the member countries, establishment of joint economic institutes, expansion of cooperation in tourism, banking, transportations, energy, scientific, and technological fields.

Iran, Nigeria, Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Egypt and Malaysia comprise the D8 member countries.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Turkish President Abdullah Gul are due in Nigeria this week for the D8 Summit, the Nigerian foreign ministry said on Sunday.

Ministry spokesman Ozo Nwobu said in a statement that both leaders are expected at the D8 summit due to open in Abuja on Thursday.

Besides the host country, either prime ministers or ministers will represent the other developing nations.

Nigeria on Sunday took over the rotating two-year chairmanship of the group from Malaysia at talks building up to the summit due on Thursday.

“The Nigerian chair is committed to ensuring that the various challenges facing the organization are effectively addressed,” Nigerian foreign affairs permanent secretary Martin Uhomoibhi said at a pre-summit meeting of the D8 commissioners./end