Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

The presence of Iranian President Mahmood Ahmadinejad at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Cairo would help improve relations between the two nations, Chairman of Iranian Majlis (parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said on Monday.

He said the visit takes place upon an official invitation extended to President Ahmadinejad by his Egyptian counterpart Mohammed Morsi, IRNA news agency reported.

President Ahmadinejad's meeting with the Egyptian president is of great importance because it can play a key role in broadening relations and cooperation between the two countries, Boroujerdi said.

The visit will also provide a suitable opportunity for both sides to close ranks and deepen relations, he said.

Egyptian officials have not taken concrete measures to broaden ties between the two nations, he said, adding that this is because of the pressures being exerted on Cairo by the US and Saudi Arabia.

"We understand Egypt's situation and hope that the presence of the Iranian president in the upcoming OIC summit will help broaden economic, cultural, political and tourism relations between the two sides," he said.

Besides, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said the restoration of ties between Iran and Egypt would not threaten the interests of other countries in the region, Press TV reported.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran and Egypt have announced that relations between the two countries are not against the interests of other countries in the region," Salehi told reporters during his visit to Ethiopia.

Salehi expressed satisfaction with the growing cooperation between Tehran and Cairo, and voiced optimism that greater steps would be taken toward the enhancement of bilateral ties.

Iranian officials view President Ahmadinejad's upcoming visit to Cairo as a good opportunity for deepening ties between the two countries.

Ahmadinejad will attend the OIC summit in Cairo on Feburary 6.

During his stay, the Iranian president is scheduled to confer with the heads of states of Muslim countries on issues of mutual interest as well as regional and international developments.

The 12th OIC summit themed "World Muslims, their problems and new opportunities" will host representatives from 57 Islamic countries.

Besides, the head of Egypt's interest section in Iran Khaled Amareh has stressed the need for Tehran-Cairo rapprochement in the face of the ongoing crises in the Middle East, IRNA quoted him as saying.

Amareh noted that Egypt-Iran relations date back to as early as 500 BCE. He also described the two countries as major actors in the region.

"We are in a critical region that has been battered by numerous crises, and has undergone numerous rapacious exploitations. The establishment of bilateral ties between Egypt and Iran is greatly important for the region, and we hope to see ever increasing ties between the two nations," he pointed out.

Amareh stated that his country is willing to establish friendly and normal ties with all the countries, including the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Egyptian representative said Iran and Egypt have already exchanged cultural, social, political, scientific and research delegations to prepare the ground for convergence between Iranian and Egyptian nations.

He put special emphasis on exchange of views between Cairo and Tehran on regional developments, reciprocal ties, the Palestinian cause and elimination of weapons of mass destruction from the Middle East, calling for enhanced cooperation between Tehran and Cairo in political, tourism and economic spheres.

Iran severed its ties with Egypt after Cairo signed the 1978 Camp David Accord with Israel and offered asylum to Iran's deposed monarch Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

However, the Egyptian revolution in February 2011 which led to the ouster of Hosni Mubarak led to a relative thaw in the relations between Tehran and Cairo.