Iran, Uzbekistan call for peace in Afghanistan

TEHRAN (NNI): Iran and Uzbekistan Sunday called for peaceful settlement of the long-standing Afghan conflict, saying that solution to crisis in Afghanistan is must for development in the region.

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov made the appeal in a meeting in Tehran.

Appreciating Iran's policy on national and international issues, Mr. Karimov said that his country also supports the policy of non- intervention in internal affairs of other countries. Touching on close viewpoints shared by Iran and Uzbekistan on the Afghan crisis, he said, ''If the role of all groups in government of Afghanistan is ignored, there will be no peace in the country.'' Karimov said that his country's view on settlement of Afghan issue is very close to Iran's.

President Khatami too said the Afghan issue is important for all, including regional states, and Iran is for durable peace and tranquility taking all aspects of the issue and rights of all people into account.

He said all should strive to restore political stability and security in the region and fight the danger of drugs production and distribution, which threaten the world. Security and progress of regional states depend on security of the entire region, therefore, Iran and Uzbekistan should have more extensive cooperation, especially in the field of economy, said Khatami. He also accepted Karimov's invitation to pay an official visit to Uzbekistan. President Khatami hoped that the agreements already reached between the two countries would bear positive results.

Khatami said that in its foreign policy, Iran gives priority to cooperation with friendly countries in the region so that the economies of both sides would be complementary to each other. President Khatami told his Uzbek counterpart Islam Karimov that cooperation and unity among Central Asian and the Caucasus republics as well as Iran can obviate the presence and greedy desires of the aliens in the region.