TEHRAN – In separate meetings on Sunday the new ambassadors of Pakistan, Australia and Uruguay submitted their credentials to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

In his meeting with the president, Pakistan’s new ambassador to Iran, Muhammad Bux Abbasi, conveyed the warm greetings of Pakistan’s president and government to the Iranian nation and government and described relations between the two neighbors as “friendly and brotherly”.
President Ahmadinejad called Iran-Pakistan relations special, saying they are even stronger than “brotherly and friendly” ties due to the two nations’ cultural and religious affinities.
The people of Iran and Pakistan share each other’s joys and sorrows, he stated.
Iran is interested in strengthening its ties with Pakistan in various areas, especially in the oil, gas, and energy sectors, he said.
“Today, Iran feels more responsibility than before to be on the side of her brothers in Pakistan,” Ahmadinejad noted.
A secure and united Pakistan will benefit everyone, he added.
Iran willing to expand ties with independent states
In his meeting with the Australian ambassador, Ahmadinejad said Iran is interested in developing its relations with Australia in different areas.
The ambassador, for his part, stated that Australia and Iran enjoy historical ties. He said he will try to deepen relations between Tehran and Canberra during his mission in Iran.
Ahmadinejad said the two countries will benefit from expansion of bilateral ties. “It is in the interest of the two nations that their cultural, political, and economic ties of expand day by day.”
Elsewhere in his remarks, the president said the era of blackmailing, unilateralism, and oppression is coming to an end and accordingly the Islamic Republic of Iran is “willing to expand ties with independent and friendly states more than before.”
Ahmadinejad said Iran is seriously opposed to the U.S. behavior but this opposition will have no effect on “our relations with Australia”.
Australia was considered a close U.S. ally under former Prime Minister John Howard.
He said the Australian government’s “good diplomacy” toward Iran indicates that it is determined to develop bilateral ties.
Independent countries defend peace
In a separate meeting with the Uruguayan envoy, Ahmadinejad called Iran and Uruguay two independent countries which are “standing on their own feet.”
“Friendly and independent countries defend fraternity, peace, and justice in the world,” the president noted during his meeting with the Uruguayan ambassador.
The president also expressed hope that the Uruguayan ambassador would expand relations between Tehran and Montevideo during his mission in Iran.
Uruguay is located in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to 3.46 million people. It is bordered by Brazil to the north, by Argentina across the bank of both the Uruguay River to the west and the estuary of Río de la Plata to the southwest, and the South Atlantic Ocean to the southeast.