Arab League chief calls on Iran to adjust expansionist policies

Manama, Dec. 11 (BNA): Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, has urged Iran to adjust its expansionist policies, and statements in which it claims that is controlling the decision-making process in four Arab capitals, and that is extending its influence from the Arabian Gulf to the Mediterranean. Aboul-Gheit asserted that dialogue with the Iranians cannot be launched unless Iran changes its hostile conduct and policies against the countries of the region. Speaking during the concluding plenary session of the Manama Dialogue, entitled "Towards A New Regional Security Architecture", Dr. Aboul-Gheit said regional security should be based on five principles, namely the respect for states' sovereignty and non-interference in countries' domestic affairs, determining the boundaries of states and political entities, centralism, just and comprehensive resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict and adopting a unified stance against the possession of weapons of mass destruction, especially by Iran and Israel. Speaking during the same session, Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Foreign Affairs and National Security, called for adopting new mechanisms to put an end to conflicts without using violence. He said that Middle East region has a potential to progress, prosper and be a development role model thanks to their energy and human resources. He expressed his country's unwavering readiness to cooperate with its partners to work out a comprehensive regional security system. He affirmed Pakistan's good relations with GCC countries.