President Rouhani Urges Using Capacities Of Int'l Bodies To Serve Global Peace

New York, Sept 25, IRNA – President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday stressed the need to make use of capacities of international organizations such as G-77 and NAM to serve global peace. Speaking in a meeting with his Bolivian counterpart Evo Morales here, the Iranian chief executive said "independent countries can raise a united voice against terrorism worldwide by closing their ranks." President Rouhani is in New York to attend the General Debate of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly to be held on Thursday. He will be the second speaker to address the event. More in his meeting with the Bolivian President, the Iranian leader congratulated President Morales for taking over the rotating chairmanship of the G-77. The Group of 77 at the United Nations is a loose coalition of developing nations, designed to promote its members' collective economic interests and create an enhanced joint negotiating capacity in the United Nations. There were 77 founding members of the organization, but by November 2013 the organization had since expanded to 133 member countries. Bolivia holds the Chairmanship for 2014. President Rouhani further noted that Tehran gives priority to expansion of relations with Latin American states as well as "revolutionary and independent countries such as Bolivia." Regardless of their far geographical distance, said the President, the two brotherly countries have always shared common views regarding major international developments such as the situation of the oppressed people of Palestine and Gaza and political crises in Iraq and Syria. Meanwhile, President Morales referred to Iran and Bolivia as two friendly countries, stressing that his country considered itself as an ally to Tehran. President Morales added Bolivia is interested in sharing Iran's valuable technological experiences./end