The Elders Group, consisting of Kofi Annan, former Finish and Mexican presidents, Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, is paying visit to Tehran.
President Rouhani paid homage to the soul of the late Nelson Mandela, South African leader and the founder of the Elders group and said that his thoughts and peaceful approach would last forever.
“The regional conflicts are rooted in cultural and economic poverty, injustice, the absence of democratic governments, and presence of and intervention by foreign troops. Extremism, violence, and terrorism are the main issues of the region,” he added.
Rouhani emphasized to fight extremism, violence and terrorism; we should address the roots, believing that his proposal to the UN to fight extremism and violence was in line with such beliefs.
He demanded that all hegemonic powers and notable individuals should help ratification of the UN resolution, expressing hope that the approach would be institutionalized.
“Killings and violence in Syria disturb every human heart. Let’s come and unite to stop killings and war in Syria,” Rouhani exclaimed, “the most important step to do so is to cut short the supply of support and arms to terrorist fighters in Syria by some countries in the region, and help influx of humanitarian aid to inside Syria should also be addressed.”
On Iran and Powers nuclear deal in Geneva, Rouhani held that all Iran’s activities had been peaceful and would remain so. “Iran does not demand anything beyond its rights in NPT framework, and if Powers have strong will, a final agreement and comprehensive solution in short-time will be worked out,” Rouhani believed.
Kofi Annan pointed to Iran’s influential role in the developments in the region. “The world should find a political solution to stop killings in Syria. Best candidates to act here are the UN and Syria’s neighbors especially Iran to play their roles,” he added.
Annan addressed Rouhani as “we adore your views on Syrian crisis and on solving problems in war-torn country.”
The other members of Elders group also discussed Rouhani’s address in Davos Economic Forum, lavishing praise on its international impact as “your remarks reminded us of late Nelson Mandela, the founder of the group.”
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MNA
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