Region | Iran
Ahmadinejad hails ties with Bolivia
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday said Iran and Bolivia are "allies who will stick by each other's side" - a statement certain to provoke concern in Washington.
- AP & Reuters
- Published: 23:15 September 2, 2008
Tehran: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday said Iran and Bolivia are "allies who will stick by each other's side" - a statement certain to provoke concern in Washington.
Ahmadinejad said on state television that Iran and Bolivia will not heed US concerns over their close ties.
Leftist Bolivian President Evo Morales is currently on a two-day visit to Iran. His trip is the latest sign of strengthening ties between the two governments.
Bolivia, which has large natural gas reserves, wants help from oil-and-gas powerhouse Iran to further develop its energy sector.
Iran, eager to expand ties with Bolivia in oil, gas and other fields, is expected to sign agreements during Morales's visit to boost cooperation between the two countries, Iranian media reported.
During a visit to Bolivia last year, Ahmadinejad had promised the country $1 billion (Dh3.67 billion) in investment money, aimed mostly at developing its oil and gas industry. The Iranian president said the two sides would sign cooperation agreements, but did not give details. Morales said he wanted to boost political ties, commerce and investment.
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Bolivia is one of several South American nations to improve ties with Tehran, causing some concern in the US.
Iran is embroiled in a row over its nuclear plans, which Washington says are aimed at building bombs despite Tehran's denials.
Owing to this row, the UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on Iran.
All praise
"I admire the wisdom and resistance of the Bolivian nation, which has stood up in the heart of Latin America to defend its freedom, honour and interest," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying.
"My visit to Iran is in response to last year's visit of President Ahmadinejad to Bolivia and this means that our political relations will further expand in the future," Morales said.
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