TEHRAN – Iran’s chief diplomat Manuchehr Mottaki on Tuesday called for setting up an “Asian union” amid efforts to increase Asia’s influence in the world.

Mottaki made the remarks in a meeting with Iran’s cultural envoys to foreign countries at the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO).
The ICRO envoys’ mission is to establish cultural affinity with other nations and convey the message of the Islamic Republic which is based on justice and defending world nations’ rights.
Mottaki said culture forms the cornerstone of Iran’s relations with the world and that the international community is very receptive to Iran’s views.
The foreign minister stated that the founder of Islamic Republic the late Imam Khomeini attached special importance to poor and oppressed.
The addressees of the Islamic Revolution are not only Muslims but all people of different religions, he added.
Elsewhere in his remarks Mottaki said Africa is a rich continent with good people.
“Africa’ abundant resources and its good people have so far been ignored.”
Interaction with Africa will create new opportunities for Iran and will increase trust between the Islamic Republic and the African nations, he added.
Mottaki said Iran and Africa plan to hold a summit in 2009.
--------Iran-Arab dialogue
The foreign minister said Iran wants close relations with the Arab world. “We have proposed to the Arab League that we should launch Iran-Arab dialogue.”
Although Zionists have created problems for Iran in Latin America, Tehran should use the regional nations’ hatred towards the U.S. and their thirst for justice to develop its relations with these countries, he stated.
Mottaki was a member of ICRO before serving as lawmaker and then foreign minister