Ex-UN chief Annan meets Rafsanjani
Tehran Times Political Desk

TEHRAN – Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Sunday held talks with former UN secretary general Kofi Annan who is in Tehran to attend a conference on the role of religion in the modern world.

During the meeting Rafsanjani criticized “the occupiers” of Iraq and Afghanistan for spreading insecurity in the Middle East.

“The occupiers have increased insecurity in the region and now they are unable to resolve the problems of these countries,” he said in reference to the mounting violence in the war-ravaged countries.

Turning to the global food crisis, the cleric said, “There are many people in the world, especially in Africa, who are in need of their daily food. A global determination is required to address this problem and reduce the pain of African people.”

Annan said, “Resolving global economic crisis needs time. The main principle in ending the crisis is to rebuild confidence between people and those who make decision on economic and political issues in the countries which are struggling with this crisis.”

The former UN secretary general will give a keynote address at the upcoming conference which is hosted by former president Mohammad Khatami and his Center for Dialogue among Religions and Civilizations.

The conference is aimed at creating a venue for dialogue between the Islamic world and the West

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