Iran Minister Welcomes Regional Sports Co-op

Moscow, Nov 4, IRNA – Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Mohammad Abbasi said Tehran is interested in development of bilateral and regional cooperation in different fields of sports. He reiterated that such development will benefit regional peace and security. Abbasi, who is in Russia since last Monday, called his meetings with Russian officials as useful and in line with developing sports cooperation. Referring to his meeting with Russian Minister of Sport Vitaly Mutko, Abbasi said the two sides, by considering great sports potentials and abilities in both states, agreed to cooperate in different fields such as wrestling. The Iranian minister, who attended the sixth international meeting of "Peace and Sport" in the port city of Sushi on Black Sea coast, said that strengthening regional cooperation between Iran and its neighboring states were among main agenda of the meeting. The Iranian minister, on the sidelines of the event, met and conferred separately with ministers and officials of Russia, Iraq, Mongolia and Afghanistan. He added that they all underscored the role of sports in strengthening global peace and justice. The meeting was held by participation of 700 sports officials from 100 countries in the port city of Sushi, which is to host 2014 Winter Olympics./end