Iranian minister says military attaches should pursue defence diplomacy

IRNA web site
27 Jul 05

Tehran, 27 July, IRNA: Defence Minister Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani
said at an biannual gathering of “Iranian military attaches in foreign
countries” that the military attaches are responsible for pursuing the
country’s defence diplomacy.

According to the Public Relations Department of the Defence Ministry,
he said military and strategic issues require constant follow up by
competent persons.

Referring to the achievements made over the past eight year by the
Defence Ministry, he said the ministry has defence cooperation in the
fields of software and hardware with over 70 countries around the
globe such as in Europe, Africa and Asia.

During the period the ministry has signed defence pacts with Russia,
Iraq, Kuwait, India, Pakistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, Ivory
Coast, Austria, Senegal, Belarussia and South Africa, he said.

Benefiting from defence diplomacy and the role of mass media, the
ministry has taken concrete strides in promoting policies of detente,
trust-building, transparency and accountability, he underlined.

The military attaches should shoulder responsibilities to boost
defence relations, export of military items in line with the foreign
policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, he concluded.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress