Iran, Sudan express willingness to expand ties of cooperation

TEHRAN, April 18, 2004 (Xinhua) — Iran and Sudan have issued a joint communique to express their will to expand bilateral relations and promote economic cooperation, the official IRNA news agency reported on Sunday.

The document was inked on Saturday after the sixth round of their joint political committee by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for the Arab and African Affairs Mohammad Sadr and Sudanese State Minister for the Foreign Affairs Najib al-Khayer.

Iran welcomed the peace talks going on in Sudan and expressed wishes that full peace and stability would be restored to the country with the unity and solidarity among the Sudanese people.

The Sudanese side agreed to the right of Iran to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

The two sides also pledged to work together to bring closer their attitudes on the major global issues such as the Palestinian crisis and Iraqi unrest.

They are committed to strengthen consultations in the fields including anti-terrorism, disarmament and environmental protection.