Mottaki: Iran, India shoulder grave responsibilities

Tehran, April 6, IRNA - Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Sunday that deep ties between Iran and India are rooted in history and the two nations have always shouldered grave responsibilities.

Ties between the two nations date back to the era of Silk Road, he said.

According to the Press and Information Bureau of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Mottaki made the remarks in a meeting with the new
Indian Ambassador to Tehran Sanjay Singh.

At the meeting, the new Indian ambassador submitted a copy of his
credentials to Mottaki and focused on ties between the two countries
as well as regional developments.

"Unfortunately, rapid growth of drug narcotics, extremism and
terrorism in Afghanistan are rooted in the wrong policies of hegemonic
powers which has left negative impacts on the entire region," Mottaki
said.

A number of hegemonic powers believe that extremism should be promoted
in the region rather in their own countries, he said.

Referring to great potentialities in relations between the two sides,
he described the current level of trade exchanges as insufficient and
expressed hope that ties will be further expanded in various fields.

He also expressed the hope for expansion of economic and cultural ties
between Iran and India.

The new Indian ambassador, for his part, said deep-rooted bilateral
ties indicate friendly ties between the two nations.

"During my tenure, I would do my best to help bolster and consolidate
relations between Iran and India in various fields," he said.

Turning to the issue of energy as well as the 'Peace Pipeline' between
the two countries, he said, "We hope to witness speedy implementation
of the 'Peace Pipeline' project as well as laying of gas pipelines in
the near future."

End