TEHRAN, Aug. 29 (MNA) – Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said that democracy is the basis for peace and sustainable development in the world.

Larijani made the remarks in the presence of reporters at Imam Khomeini International Airport, before departing for New York to attend the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments.

He said the Conference aims at holding talks with the heads of the parliaments of world countries in order to strengthen economic diplomacy.

Larijani underlined that the fourth Conference entails topics such as peace and democracy for sustainable development and what the public is demanding, adding that a major topic of discussion, given the turmoil in the world is to achieve lasting peace and democracy.

Noting that the democracy should be the basis for peace and sustainable development, Larijani said wars in recent decades have made democracy to be again taken very seriously, adding that the Conference is a good opportunity to assess the process in the past.

Larijani stressed the need for resolving the challenges in the Middle East, especially extremist movements and said, "This is one of the main topics to be discussed during the Conference."

Regarding Yemen and Syria, Larijani said the issues in both countries can be solved democratically if they are not turned into a trade among a number of extratrerrotrial forces.

He urged the countries interested in the settlement of issues in Yemen and Syria to pave the way for the two nations to use their firm will to solve the problems.