Iran Ready to Bolster Relations with Mauritania

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad voiced Tehran's full preparedness to expand ties and cooperation with Mauritania in all the various fields.
Ahmadinejad made the remarks during a meeting with his Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz in Nouakchott on Sunday.

At the meeting, the two chief executives conferred on possible avenues for the expansion of ties and cooperation in different arenas.

Ahmadinejad praised the talented workforce and natural resources of the African country, and said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to activate the two countries' capacities in a bid to expand Tehran-Nouakchott relations in the interest of the two nations.

"African countries are overwhelmed with natural wealth and mines, but westerners have, unfortunately, looted this region due to their inhuman and colonialist outlook and left nothing for these nations, but poverty and backwardness," he added.

The president further stressed the necessity of planning for progress and development of relations, and said, "Iran is standing beside nations, specially the Muslim nations which are under the oppression of the capitalist system, and supports their progress and prosperity."

The Mauritanian president briefed Ahmadinejad on his country's rich mining reserves, and lamented that European countries are exploiting a major part of Mauritanian resources in return for insignificant sums.

He strongly welcomed presence and activity of Iranian companies in his country's different sectors, saying that given Mauritania's capacities, presence of the Iranian companies would benefit both sides.

Ahmadinejad arrived in Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott on Sunday after participating in the 66th UN General Assembly meeting in New York.

Upon arrival at Nouakchott airport, the Iranian president was received by his Mauritanian counterpart.

According to officials, the visit is aimed at the expansion of ties and cooperation between the two countries.