Gaza to be most important issue during Raisi's Central Asia visit

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
8 Nov 2023 16:15
1 Shares

The Iranian President has spoken to reporters before embarking on a trip to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to promote bilateral relations with Central Asian countries.

Pictures of Palestinian children killed by "Israel" are displayed behind the podium as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks to the crowds gathered to protest the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, in Tehran. Iran, on October 18, 2023. (AFP)

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi kicked off a tour of Central Asia where he intends to visit Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The Iranian President will arrive in Dushanbe, responding to the invitation of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, heading a high-ranking political and economic delegation.

The Iranian President is expected to sign several bilateral agreements during his visit to Tajikistan.

Following his stay in Dushanbe, Raisi will travel to Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital, to participate in the 16th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).

The Iranian president will later travel to Uzbekistan to take part in the 16th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Tashkent. During his trip, Raisi aims to promote close relations with nearby Muslim and like-minded countries. The President told reporters this approach constitutes a pillar of his government's foreign policy.

Gaza: A focal point of Raisi's efforts

The Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip will be a key focus of the Iranian President's activities in the ECO summit and his visit to Tajikistan.

"The most important subject I need to raise in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will be the issue of Gaza."

The Iranian President pointed to the vast attention brought to the Palestinian cause internationally, saying, "People all over the globe seriously abhor the Zionist regime and its crimes against humanity."

He also highlighted the rapidly growing anti-"Israel" sentiment around the world, underscoring the popular concerns "about the inaction of international organizations" on Israeli war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

"The inaction has become clear to the people as they feel that [international mechanisms are] unfair and the voice of the oppressed is not heard," Raisi noted during a press conference at the Mehrabad International Airport.

The ECO summit will host officials and representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Iran.