Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamamd Javad Zarif made the remark at Astana Airport in Kazakhstan, in response to a reporter’s question about the gathering of the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) in Paris on Saturday where Prince Turki al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia’s former spy chief, pronounced his overt support for the terrorist group.
“Unfortunately, this is not a new development,” Zarif continued, “the MKO terrorist group has been present in France for years and this is not the first time they have played this political game in the form of holding an annual gathering.”
Every year, a number of people with defective birth certificates from different countries attend this gathering, he added.
“People like John Bolton [former UN ambassador] and Newt Gingrich [former Speaker of the House] have attended the meeting for years and supported the terrorists as has been their habitual policy,” Zarif said.
The Iranian foreign minister expressed regret over Turki’s participation at the MKO gathering, saying “he has had a hand in the creation of al-Qaeda and Taliban and played a highly disgraceful role in the Saudi regime. His presence among the MKO is an indication of the incompetence and lack of wisdom of these people who, like Saddam, have tied their future to terrorists.”
Elsewhere, Zarif referred to the meeting of Caspian Sea littoral states’ foreign ministers in Astana, saying ‘points of difference about the Sea’s long-overdue legal regime have lessened.’
“Yet, it is somewhat optimistic to say we would reach a wholesome conclusion in this meeting, given the remaining issues,” he added.
“Of course we have had good cooperation among the littoral states in the fields of environment and preservation of fisheries and aquaculture resources of the Caspian Sea,” Zarif said.
He went on to stress, “in many cases, particularly in regard to the fact that the Caspian must remain the sea of peace and friendship void of the presence of outsiders, we have had consensus among all members.”
The meeting of Caspian Sea littoral countries’ foreign ministers will be held in in Kazakhstan's capital Astana on Wednesday where representatives of five littoral countries including Iran, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Republic of Azerbaijan will address the most critical issues of the Caspian Sea such as the preparation of legal regime draft and also of documentation required in meeting.
MS/3711718
Your Comment