Iran seeking to help establish democracy in Syria: Iranian Majlis speaker

TEHRAN,Feb.12(MNA) – Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said that Tehran is seeking to help establish democracy in Syria, while suggesting that democracy cannot be achieved through weapons, a reference to armed struggle in Syria. Larijani made the remarks at the first conference of Parliamentary Assembly of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) countries in Islamabad on Monday. “We have recommended both sides [involved in the Syrian crisis] to settle their issues through diplomatic means and avoid creating opportunities for Israel,” Larijani said. The inter-parliamentary forum of ECO is a new organization that helps boost regional unity, Larijani said on his arrival in Islamabad airport. He added that it is very important for regional countries to resolve their issues through regional agreements. Addressing the forum on Monday evening, Larijani hailed the initiative by Pakistani Speaker of the National Assembly Fahmida Mirza to host such a forum and said that it can bolster the image of ECO. Commenting on great energy reservoirs in the region, Larijani called for expanding economic relations among regional countries. Just like Iran’s gas export to Turkey or the strategic Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, there is potential for other countries to boost such relations, Larijani added. He also expressed hope that future meetings of the forum would be held according to the chronology detailed in the timeline of ECO. The two-day forum that kicked off on Monday brought together parliament speakers and officials from Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan. ECO is an intergovernmental regional organization established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey for the purpose of promoting economic, technical, and cultural cooperation among member states.