“The present day conditions of the Middle East, and even the Mediterranean areas, are in need of greater cooperation in the field of campaign against extremism, terrorism, and aggression”

Iranian President Sheikh Hasan Rouhani said on Sunday that the terrorist acts in Paris, London, Berlin and Washington are to same extent that massacre of Iraqi, Pakistani, Afghan, Lebanese and Syrian nations account for crimes, disgraceful and condemned.
 
“The present day conditions of the Middle East, and even the Mediterranean areas, are in need of greater cooperation in the field of campaign against extremism, terrorism, and aggression,” the president said in a meeting with Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.

President Rouhani said that through strengthening the bonds of cooperation in the Middle East and Mediterranean areas, the regional countries should prevent the emergence and growth of extremism and aggression.

Turning to the issue of bilateral civil ties, President Rouhani emphasized the need for further expansion of tourism, cultural and scientific relations, considering the Iran-Cyprus relations an offspring of the ancient ties between two great powers of the time, Iran and Greece.

For his part, the Cypriot Foreign Minister Kasoulides said that the government and nation of Cyprus have an intimate feeling toward Iranian nation.

“Today, we have the great opportunity of boosting our comprehensive relations to a level that will be greater than ever before through bilateral cooperation, seeking shared ways for combat against extremism and terrorism, which know no border and teases everyone alike,” said the Cyprian foreign minister.

He especially asked for the expansion of economic ties with Iran, arguing that the year 2013 was a tough year for Cyprus in which the country suffered from severe economic recession.

“Maybe a part of the economic problems we suffered then and even today have been due to the imposed sanctions against Iran, which led to the imbalance in international trade relations,” he added.