LOC18:48
15:48 GMT
TEHRAN, May 15 (KUNA) -- Iran sees the ground is now well-prepared for a
fuel swap agreement, the country's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin
Mehmanparast said on Saturday.
Speaking to a local TV channel in Tehran, he gave an upbeat assessment
about the fuel swap agreement ushered in by President Luiz Inacio Lula da
Silva of Brazil.
He said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad would meet the Brazilian
leader on the sidelines of the G15 summit, which will kick-start here on
Monday.
He further noted that Iran's nuclear issues, including the fuel swap, have
earlier been reviewed with Turkey and Brazil so far.
"I think the same will also be discussed during President Lula da Silva's
stay in Tehran," he said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki inaugurated the opening session
of the G15 foreign ministerial meeting here earlier on the day.
In a keynote speech, Mottaki called on the G15 to lay down a fresh approach
based on justice, respect of others' will and protection of people's interests
through concerted efforts and close cooperation among developing countries.
He urged the G15 member states, with the new millennium, to further promote
and reinforce cooperation among them in order to be able to meet challenges,
mainly economic globalization, investment in information technology and
communication, fight against development and illiteracy and development
hurdles.
He added that his country attaches much attention to regional and
international cooperation.
The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that sharing political, cultural and
economic commonalties among G15 members can leave vital impacts on
investments, commerce, energy, information technology (IT), housing,
education, health and environment, he said.
The 14th G15 Summit will convene here on Monday.
The Group 15 was established at the 9th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit
Meeting in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in September 1989, with a common goal of
achieving enhanced growth and prosperity in the member states.
The number of the G15 members has expanded to 18 countries from North
America, South America, Asia and Africa. (end)
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KUNA 151848 May 10NNNN