Iran’s Salehi in Ouagadougou to expand Iran-Burkina Faso ties

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has arrived in Burkina Faso to discuss the latest international developments and ways to expand relations with senior Burkinabe officials.

Salehi arrived at Ouagadougou International Airport on Tuesday and was welcome by Burkinabe Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Vincent Zakane upon arrival.

During his stay, the Iranian foreign minister will exchange views on international and regional issues as well as the development of Tehran-Ouagadougou ties with officials of Burkina Faso.

Earlier in the day, during a stop in Accra, Salehi met Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama and delivered Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s invitation to pay an official visit to the Islamic Republic.

During the meeting, Salehi congratulated Mahama on his victory in the recent presidential election and described the presence of an Iranian delegation at the swearing-in ceremony of the new Ghanaian president as an indication of the Islamic Republic’s firm determination to expand cooperation with Ghana in all fields.

The Iranian foreign minister also said that Iran is ready to share its experiences with the West African state in a number of areas, such as agriculture, science, technology, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals.

Mahama welcomed the invitation to visit Iran and promised to travel to the country as soon as possible. He also invited Ahmadinejad to visit Ghana.

The Ghanaian president expressed hope that the two countries would upgrade their cooperation when their business councils meet in mid-2013.

On January 5, Salehi began a three-leg tour of West Africa — with stops in Benin, Ghana, and Burkina Faso — in order to expand the Islamic Republic’s relations with those countries.