TEHRAN -- The Asian parliaments play an important role in boosting ties between the countries by planning, educating people, and promoting unity, President Mahmud Ahmadinejad said here on Saturday.

Ahmadinejad held talks with parliament speakers from several Asian countries who are set to take part in the seventh general meeting the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace (AAPP), opening Sunday in Tehran.

Developing relations with Asian countries, especially the Muslim states, is high on the agenda of Iran’s foreign policy, Ahmadinejad said in a meeting with Indonesian Parliament Speaker Agung Laksono.

Laksono stressed that Indonesian parliament strongly supports improvement of ties with the Islamic Republic, calling it very important to the country.

Iran prepared to help develop Afghanistan

In two separate meetings with Afghanistan’s Senate Speaker Sebghatollah Mojaddadi, and the Afghan Parliament Speaker Mohammad Yunis Qanuni, Ahmadinejad said “Afghanistan is a brave and resistant nation.”

The administration and parliament of Afghanistan should provide the nation with unity, security, and progress, he added.

As a friendly neighbor, the Islamic Republic of Iran has always stood by the side of Afghanistan and is prepared to assist in reconstructing and developing the country and to provide aid for the education of Afghani youths, he stated.

“Enemies of regional states seek an unstable and unsafe Afghanistan,” the president noted.

Unity and collaboration of different groups along with the administration and the parliament are important factors that will lead to development and freedom of Afghanistan from the conflicts, he added.

Qanuni said that Afghanistan seeks to utilize Iran’s experiences, especially in the fields of education, development, and reconstruction.

Mojaddadi added that the implementation of job-generating projects in Afghanistan through the use of Iran’s experiences will prepare the ground for repatriating Afghan refugees to their homeland.

Iran supports a strong and developed Iraq

In a separate meeting with the Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmud al-Mashhadani, Ahmadinejad said, “The hegemonic powers seek to dominate the entire (Middle East) region by occupying Iraq, fomenting insecurity, and creating division.”

“The Islamic states should cooperate to bring security back to Iraq, and Iran is prepared to provide Iraq with any type of assistance,” he added.

“The occupiers create insecurity but accuse the Iraqi authorities of being unable to handle the situation.

“That is because a powerful, united, and advanced Iraq would endanger their benefits,” he observed.

Al-Mashhadani stressed that Iran has a key role in bringing peace and stability back to Iraq.

Iran seeks to boost ties with Philippines

Negotiation is the best approach to maintain peace and brotherhood in the world, Ahmadinejad told Philippine Parliament Speaker Jose de Venecia.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran supports dialogue among religions and civilizations for a better global management.

Tehran is prepared to expand ties with Manila in cultural, political, oil, and energy spheres, he stated.

De Venecia appreciated Iran’s innovation in promoting the AAPP into Asian parliament Assembly.

“The Philippines seeks to share Iran’s experiences in various areas, especially in developing refineries and the petrochemical industry,” he said.