Google – AFP, 26 (AFP), 26 January 2014
 |
Former UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan gives a press conference in
Abidjan on October 10,
2013 (AFP/File, Sia Kambou)
|
Tehran —
Former UN chief Kofi Annan, head of a group of ex-global leaders known as the
Elders, Sunday started a visit aimed at boosting dialogue between Iran and the
international community, media reported.
Annan is
accompanied by Martti Ahtisaari, a former president of Finland, South Africa's
Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu and Mexican ex-president Ernesto Zedillo.
The group,
formed in 2007, is made up of 12 global leaders who try "to promote peace,
justice and human rights," according to its website.
It said the
group will hold private meetings with Iranian officials but did not give
further details.
Iranian
media reported they would start the three-day trip by visiting the mausoleum of
the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic republic.
The group
sees "recent positive developments as a historic and strategic opportunity
to end decades of animosity between Iran and the international community,"
the website said in statement on Saturday.
But it
added "trust will only be built slowly, through continued goodwill and
reciprocal action."
During the
visit, the Elders "will exchange ideas with the Iranian leadership about
peaceful ways of addressing conflict and healing sectarian divisions in the
region."
Iran is a
staunch supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime in its almost
three-year-old bloody conflict against rebels.
Iranian
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Saturday that he would host the
delegation.
President
Hassan Rouhani won last year's presidential election with promises of a
diplomatic opening to the West.
Iran and
major world powers clinched a historic nuclear deal in November, when Tehran
agreed to curb parts of its atomic programme for six months in exchange for
modest sanctions relief and a promise by Western powers not to impose new
sanctions.
Related Articles:
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.