Iran skipped French meeting due to 'undiplomatic comments'

Tehran: Iran skipped a meeting in France on Afghanistan due to "undiplomatic comments" by the host, Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he could not shake hands with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for saying Israel should be “wiped off the map'', adding that the Iranian leader did not represent his country.

"On the eve of such a conference, undiplomatic comments are made and the traditions that go with hosting such forums are ignored. For that reason, Iran did not participate," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi told a news conference.

"So far, ... we have actively participated in past conferences," he said.

The one-day meeting included foreign ministers and senior officials from Pakistan, India, Russia, China, Britain and the United States.

A statement issued after the talks said the envoys discussed fighting drug trafficking and terrorism as well as improving regional economic cooperation.