Violence, Brutality Deplorable Anywhere, SaysRouhani

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani says violence and brutality are condemned in any country and against any nation regardless of race and religion.

“For us, the massacre of the Iraqi, Pakistani, Afghan, Lebanese and Syrian people is as condemned as any act of terror in Paris, London, Berlin or Washington,” Rouhani said in a meeting with Cypriot Foreign Minister IoannisKasoulides in Tehran on Sunday.

He pointed to the ongoing developments in the Middle East and the Mediterranean region, calling on regional states to strengthen cooperation, particularly in the fight against extremism, terrorism and violence.

The Iranian president stated that bolstering cooperation would prevent the spread of violence and extremism among countries in the Middle East and the Mediterranean region.

He further stressed the importance of improving Tehran-Nicosia relations in different political, economic and cultural sectors given the two sides’ great potential, saying that increased cooperation serves the interests of both nations.

Rouhani added that Iran seeks to bolster close cooperation with the European Union and noted that Cyprus, as a member of the 28-nation bloc, can play a more effective role in this regard.

The Cypriot foreign minister, for his part, said his country seeks to use of all its potential to enhance economic cooperation with Tehran, adding that the severe 2013 economic recession in Cyprus can be traced to the illegal US-led sanctions against Iran.

Kasoulides said the EU has made certain changes to its policies on the fight against terrorism and added that the bloc seeks a peaceful solution to the ongoing the crisis in Syria and appreciates Iran’s role in establishing peace and stability in the region.

Mideast must focus on fight against terrorism, ISIL, says Zarif

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad JavadZarif has urged the countries in the Middle East to focus on the battle against terrorism, including the ISIL Takfiri extremism, as their main objective.

“We should set the fight against terrorism and ISIL as the main objective in the region and some countries must change their previous incorrect policies,” Zarif said in a meeting with the Cypriot Foreign Minister IoannisKasoulides in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Sunday.

Zarif expressed Iran’s readiness to cooperate with all regional countries to solve the ongoing problems in the Middle East, urging that any solution to those problems should be practical.

The Iranian minister further said Tehran and Nicosia should bolster relations, adding, “The two countries are capable of further raising the level of their ties through cooperation in various political, economic and cultural fields.”

The Cypriot minister, for his part, said his country attaches importance to developments in Syria and the immediate settlement of the Arab state’s problems.

He added that the ISIL Takfiri militants are a major concern for regional countries, emphasizing that the settlement of the crisis in Syria would pave the way for effective fight against the terrorist group.

Kasoulides said Iran is a regional power, which can help regional countries solve their problems.

He officially invited his Iranian counterpart to pay a visit to Cyprus which was accepted by Zarif.

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