GOVERNMENT DEFENDS MOVE TOWARDS IRAN

The Government has defended its plan to sign a bilateral cooperation agreement with Iran.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade says the Leader of Opposition’s condemnation of the move as regrettable.

A statement from the Ministry says Solomon Islands has adopted a Foreign Policy that is based on the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter.

The statement says as such Solomon Islands interact with the international community beyond the 51 of the 192 countries that it has diplomatic relations with by being members of the United Nations.

Iran has diplomatic relations with 102 countries, including Australia and New Zealand.Solomon Islands is yet to establish diplomatic relations with Iran.

It has however signed a Cooperative Memorandum with Iran which basically allows for the two countries to explore specific cooperative arrangements, including the possibility of formalizing diplomatic relations.

Iran and Solomon Islands are both members of the Group of Developing Countries at the UN, hence the Cooperative Memorandum was signed within the spirit of South-South Cooperation.

SOURCE: SIBC