ROME (IRNA) -- Spokesman of Italian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Afghan security issues cannot be solved in the absence of powerful Iran.

Maurizio Massari made the remarks on the threshold of the imminent visit to Tehran of the Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.
“Iran’s key role in establishment of regional stability, particularly for the security of Afghanistan and Pakistan, is undeniable and very crucial,” he added.
Italy, as the rotating president of the Group 8, is interested in participation of the Islamic Republic in the group’s foreign ministerial meeting to be held in the city of Trieste, northeast Italy, from June 25-27, Massari added.
Rome believes that the regional problems, particularly those of Afghanistan, would not be resolved only through presence of foreign military forces, therefore it requires presence of Afghan neighboring countries, in particular Iran, in the meeting, he said.
The G8, whose leaders will meet from July 8-18 for the full summit, groups Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.
The G8 foreign ministers along with foreign ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan will review security status of Afghanistan and Pakistan and the avenues to establish security and stability in the two countries.
During his two-day stay in Tehran, the Italian foreign minister is to hold talks with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki and several other senior officials.