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Pranab calls for deeper global engagement with Iran

ABU DHABI: India has called for a deeper international engagement with Iran to help defuse tensions in West Asia and Afghanistan. In an address at Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), the visiting External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, said Iran is “a significant role player in regional and world affairs.”

“Such engagement [with Iran] can play an effective role in promoting peace and stability in West Asia, particularly in Iraq and Palestine as also in Syria and Lebanon, while supporting the regional effort in combating extremism and terrorism.”

He said Iran also played a major role in Afghanistan. “The international effort under way there would also benefit from greater engagement with Iran.”

Mr. Mukherjee arrived here earlier on Monday on a three-day visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Minister said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should deal with the Iranian nuclear issue, and Tehran should not be threatened with violence.

He said “the most effective platform to address this matter [Iran’s nuclear issue] is the IAEA and we strongly support the need for continued dialogue between IAEA and Iran, without the accompanying cacophony of recrimination and threats of violence.”

Mr. Mukherjee’s emphasis on a greater IAEA role assumes importance in the light of the economic sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council and Germany on Iran to dissuade it from carrying out uranium enrichment.

The Minister said India and the Gulf countries faced common security threats from the forces of “extremism and terrorism.” He advocated the need for a collective security mechanism to address common political and economic threats.

Diplomatic sources said establishing a new forum on the lines of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) could come up for discussions. Mr. Mukherjee said the relations between India and the oil-rich Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) were poised to grow beyond tie-ups in oil. Flush with funds on account of the soaring global prices of oil, the GCC countries could become major investors in India’s infrastructure development.

India, on its part, could play a key role in providing food security to the Gulf states. Major consumers of Indian rice, the GCC countries have been affected by the temporary basmati rice export ban imposed by India.

India also wished to position itself as partner to develop UAE’s “knowledge-based economy.” Dubai is emerging as a “global services provider,” while Abu Dhabi has established itself as a major source of investment globally, Mr. Mukherjee said.

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