Trilateral agreement ‘would bring prosperity to region’

Mr. Rouhani addressed a joint press conference along with Mr. Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister, and Mr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, his Afghan counterpart on Monday during signing of the trilateral agreement to cooperate in development of Chabahar infrastructure.

“I would like to welcome Mr. Narendra Modi, Indian Prime Minister and President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan. Today is a historic day with regard to the development of three countries’ relations. This is a message, conveyed to the region and the world, by Tehran, New Delhi, and Kabul, that the countries of the region can make progress through collective collaboration and also benefiting from regional opportunities; the symbol of such cooperation is the port city of Chabahar, which is spring time for all three countries,” Rouhani told the meeting.

“With joint investments in Chabahar, we can connect India, through a reliable route, to Afghanistan and Central Asian countries and the Caucasus. With the documents and agreements signed today, the businessmen and entrepreneurs of Iran and other countries in the region can rely on a new international corridor,” he added.

“Today’s documents are not merely economic, but political and regional in nature, with the message that the countries of the region need to use opportunities provided by the region to develop regional cooperation. There is room for other countries to join this trilateral agreement and act upon the agreements in the near future,” Rouhani emphasized.

“The agreement signed today will not seek to act against any other countries, but it will seek to bring about the peace and prosperity for all countries in the region. In a session before signing the deal, all three leaders agreed to give the mission to one of his ministers, and all three ministers of transportation and city planning will join the committee which will regularly meet supervise over the implementation progress and provide reports to the relevant governments; today is May 23, which is a historic day for Iranians [Liberation of Khorramshahr], and it would be also a historic day for Chabahar, and the cooperation day of three countries. Again, I express my gratitude for Mr. Modi and Mr. Ashraf Ghani for their attendance in the session,” he concluded.

SH/LIVE