Larijani Leaves S.Africa For Congo

Tehran, March 8, IRNA – Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani left the South African capital city, Cape Town, for Congoˈs capital city, Brazzaville at the end of his South African visit. The Parliament News Agency, Khane-ye Mellat (Nationˈs House) reported Friday night that Larijani left Cape Town after holding parliamentary and political, and economic talks with the South African president, parliament speaker, head of provincial council, and other officials, aimed at expanding Iranˈs ties with African countries. The top South African officials in the meetings referred to the high potentials for comprehensive cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Larijani had on Saturday night attended the largest mosque of Cape Town, Al Qods Mosque, for the evening prayer, after which in an address for the worshipers he stressed the need for unity and solidarity among world Muslims aimed at dismantling the plots hatched among them by the enemies and the notorious acts. Larijani, after that, attended the Cape Townˈs Ahl Al-Bait (Prophetˈs Holy, Infallible Household) Hossiniyeh, which is the main gathering center of the Shiˈa Muslims in South Africa. He participated in a religious ritual in the Hosseiniyeh, after which he talked with the Muslims, getting better acquainted with their concerns first hand. Iran and South Africa are working on bolstering their already strong ties, with the country’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in Africa for a 5-day visit. In his meetings with President Jacob Zuma and the South African speaker of parliament, the expansion of ties in industry, minerals and agriculture was discussed. But a key question remained around whether South Africa would resume imports of Iranian oil, now that US-led sanctions are being relaxed. The opportunities Larijani was talking about include the exchange of know-how especially considering Iran’s progress in the technology and science fields. During his discussions there, Larijani emphasized that SA and Iran are friendly nations and said that the history of these ties goes back to the days of the 1979 Iranian revolution when Iran severed all ties with the Apartheid system in this country. Both sides also discussed a number of global issues. One of them is the current conflict in the Central African Republic. Larijani cautioned Africans to be wary of those spreading conflicts in their region. Larijani’s Africa tour concludes with a visit to the Central African Republic’s neighbor, Democratic Republic of the Congo./end