Germany Reaffirms Iran's Key Role In Pacifying Afghanistan

Berlin, Jan 21, IRNA -- Germany's special envoy on Afghanistan Michael Steiner reiterated Iran's important role in restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan. Addressing the Berlin-based German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) on Thursday evening, Steiner said, 'Regional states have an objective interest in a further stabilization of Afghanistan. This applies also to Iran when you think for example about the massive drug problem, as well as the large number of Afghan refugees in that country.' 'As a neighboring state, Iran is an important factor to promote efforts to stabilize Afghanistan,' he added. Steiner hailed the attendance of Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi at the regional Afghanistan confab in Istanbul, as well as his presence at the Bonn Afghanistan Conference. The top German official stressed the Afghanistan dossier and the question of Iran's nuclear program had to be dealt with separately. Iran has repeatedly stressed the 'critical importance' of Afghan stability and security. It has also vowed 'to spare no effort' to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Tehran has warned of western efforts to prolong their military presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014, saying such a policy ran counter to regional and international efforts to foster peace and stability in that war-stricken country./end