S.Leader: Iran Welcomes Progress, Development Of Africa

Tehran, April 10, IRNA – Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran is happy with the progress and development process in African countries. The Supreme Leader made the remarks here Wednesday when he received the visiting president of the African state of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza. The Ayatollah stressed Iran’s positive approach towards Africa and said Tehran welcomes unity among African nations. Referring to hostile measures taken by a number of European countries as well as the US to exploit African states and create chaos and enmity among them, the Supreme Leader expressed hope that all African nations including Burundi would meet prosperous future. Nkurunziza pointed to about three decades of relations between the two countries and said he was visiting Iran to add further dynamism to the existing bilateral relations. Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was also present in the meeting. The Burundian president, heading a delegation, arrived in Tehran yesterday. He is scheduled to meet with a number of high-ranking Iranian officials during his stay in Tehran. Burundi is located in central Africa. Its capital is Bujumbura and it is bordered by Uganda, Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania./end