The Grand Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, received the visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday, January 26.
The Grand Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, received the visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday, January 26.
Speaking at the meeting, the Leader referred to the cordial and brotherly relations that exist between the Iranian and Afghan nations. He pointed out that the bonds of friendship that tie the two nations together stem from the common religion, history, culture and language shared by the Iranian and Afghan people.
Ayatollah Khamenei expressed his pleasure over the establishment of a legal government in Afghanistan and that country's move toward law and order. He stated that the talented Afghan people are wholly devoted to Islam and interested in their independence, and that they are opposed to the presence of aliens in their country.
"The Americans, due to their lack of ability to understand the deep culture of the Afghan nation, think that they have gained a foothold in Afghanistan. But undoubtedly the Afghan people will ultimately restore their national identity and the dignity they reserve, and they will gain total control of their own fate," Ayatollah Khamenei noted.
Elsewhere in his statements, the Leader of the Islamic Republic hinted at the attempts made by the outsiders to foment discord between Iran and Afghanistan. He emphasized that the two countries should exercise vigilance, especially with regard to border issues, so that the divisive plots of the enemies of Iran and Afghanistan may not succeed.
Ayatollah Khamenei praised the endeavors and striving of the Afghan nation and mujahedin and pointed out that the services rendered by mujahedin should be highly valued and appreciated. He said that the mujahedin's services should further be utilized for the cause of Afghanistan's reconstruction and progress.
The Leader also expressed his pleasure over the decision made by the Afghan government to launch a serious campaign against narcotic drugs and the Afghan government's resolve to settle the issue related to the Hirmand River's water. Emphasizing that a prosperous, secure and stable Afghanistan would be in the interest of all countries in the region, the Leader stated that the Iranian government and other officials of the Islamic Republic would continue to assist the Afghan nation in attaining progress and full stability, and that they would seriously follow up the full-scale expansion of relations with Afghanistan.
The Afghan president, for his part, expressed great pleasure over his meeting with the Leader of the Islamic Republic. He said that the generous aid and assistance extended by the Iranian government and nation to Afghanistan has been perpetuated in the memory of the Afghan nation, and that the Afghan people would be grateful for this aid and assistance forever.
Referring to the Afghan people's participation in their country's reconstruction process, the drawing up of a constitution and presidential elections in Afghanistan, Karzai noted: "Relying on our people's presence and the assistance from the international community, especially from the Islamic Republic of Iran, we will build a bright future for our country."
The Afghan president also said that his government believes that Iran has a natural right to the Hirmand River's water, and he referred to the measures that have been taken in this respect.
Karzai further noted that the Afghan people have welcomed his government's firm decision to launch a campaign against poppy cultivation and narcotic drugs production.