Iran President To Attend Int’l Confab On Sustainable Development In Brazil

Tehran, June 13, IRNA – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will attend an international Conference on Sustainable Development in Brazil on June 19, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Tuesday. He told reporters that the details of President Ahamdinejad’s visit to the Latin American country will be announced later. The spokesman said that Iran has satisfactory cooperation with Latin American countries and there are bight prospects on the horizon for enhanced economic cooperation with Latin America. Asked about the planning for storage of crude oil at Jask port, Mehmanparast said that Iran needs storage because it has the world's second largest gas reserves and is fourth in terms of having oil reserves. He said that the planning for storage of oil supplies must not be politicized. “Iran is a major oil supplier and the emerging economies need energy supplies. Mehmanparast said that the oil sanctions by US and the European Union are aimed at sabotaging the emerging economies and their economic growth. He said that Iran's neighboring states on the north are exporting crude oil to the international markets and Jask port of Iran would be a useful platform for their exports to outside world. The spokesman said that certain countries are willing to set up oil pipeline from Jask Port of Iran, adding that the matter is an economic issue and has nothing to do with politics or media propaganda. Responding to a question whether the EU sanctions on Iranian oil will take effect from July 1, he said that the oil sanctions have propaganda purpose and creating an atmosphere as if Iran was suffering from economic pressure in order to get concession from Iran in the nuclear talks. He advised the regional states not to put their long-term interest at stake and not be insinuated by foreign conspirators led by the Zionist regime. Mehmanparast deplored the two-year prison term against local worker of Sahar television of Iran by the Azeri government for possessing illicit drug. He hoped that the reports about conviction of Azeri worker would not be true. He said that Iran is willing to develop cooperation with the neighboring states including Azerbaijan Republic and only the Zionist regime benefits from discord among the regional states./end