The grand Ayatullah al Khomein, founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Mr. Mahadhi Juma Maalim, MP and deputy minister for Foreign Affairs
By Nasser Kigwangallah
THE government of the United Republic of Tanzania
and its people conveyed its heartfelt and warmest congratulations to the people
of Iran, its government and his Excellency President Hassan Rouhani on their auspicious occasion
to celebrate the national day of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Speaking at a ceremony to commemorate 35 years
of the Islamic Revolution of Iran in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, Hon. Mahadhi
Juma Maalim (MP), deputy minister for Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation said that both countries can benefit from helping each other
develop economic and bilateral ties by exchanging information in the fields of
natural resources and the preservation of archaeological sites.
The ceremony was held
at the residence of the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Dar es
Salaam on Tuesday February 11th, 2014 and was attended by high
government officials, ambassadors, academicians, journalists and ordinary
people from all corners of the city.
The guest of honour
was His Excellency Ali Hassan Mwinyi, the 2nd phase president of the
United Republic of Tanzania.
He said Tanzania and
Iran have developed bilateral ties through joint economic commissions in recent
years.
“In October 2010 Iran and Tanzania signed a
memorandum of understanding on economic cooperation that covered a wide range
of fields, including energy, infrastructure, banking and investments,
agriculture, science and technology,” he said.
According to him, in May 2009, Iran's First
Vice President Parviz Davoudi toured Tanzania and announced Iran’s intention to
establish agricultural offices in Zanzibar and Dar es-Salaam
respectively.
In January 2010, Iranian and Tanzanian
officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning economic cooperation
in the fishery project, cement production and meat processing industries, trade,
investment, tourism, education, health, culture, transport and livestock.
He said Tanzania and Iran have historically
maintained stable bilateral relations.
Mr. Mahadhi said talks are underway to explore
more on how Iran and Tanzania could expand bilaretal cooperation between the
two countries and efforts are underway to pursue this endeavor.
Increasing bilateral ties between Iran and
Tanzania have also recently facilitated military cooperation and other fields.
He said the historic relations between the two
countries are historic, and would continue to expand as days go on.
“Tanzania and Iran have established a Joint
Commission for Cooperation (JPC) that conducted its first meeting in 2010 and
we expect to have more talks in the near future,” he said.
Hon. the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Dar esSalaam
On his part, the Iranian Ambassador to
Tanzania Agha Jafari Mahadi said that 35 is not a long time in history, rather
it its people approved that it is not a short time to accomplish many things.
He said, in its history Iran has never been
a colony to anyone, but an independent country.
“The advent of Islamic Revolution revived
real dependence of Iran as a nation and also democracy based on the religious
values, emphasis on science and technology,” he said.
Ambassador Mahadi said relations between
Tanzania and Iran go back a very long time.
“From early times monsoon winds have
permitted rapid maritime travel between East Africa and Asia. Although
large-scale Persian settlement in East Africa is unlikely, Persian cultural and
religious influences are unmistakably present in Tanzania,” he said.
According to him cooperation between Tanzania and the Islamic
Republic of Iran dates back over 1,000 years when Iranians, then under the
Shiraz empire, sailed to East Africa’s trade gateway, Kilwa to exchange goods
with the locals.
He said it is that historical fact which
drives Iran’s desire to re-awaken the two countries’ ties at this time, but
putting more weight on health, diplomacy, trade and agricultural aspects. “On
coming to serve here as ambassador, I had all the feelings that I am going to a
place where I may call ‘home away from home’.”
Ambassador Mahadi added that with the warm
and friendly attitude abundantly found among Tanzanians, he finds working in
the country very attractive.
The envoy revealed that before the 1979 revolution,
Iran was a market for consumer and industrial goods, but after the revolution
this trend was reversed and presently Iran is a major exporter of industrial
manufactured goods including farm machinery.
He noted “What we have learnt in Iran is
that if someone hates you and imposes sanctions on your economy, he is
instructing you to work hard and be self-sufficient. Western powers sanctions
have made us strive to produce all our needs locally.”
Ninety per cent of equipment for Iran’s
defence forces is locally manufactured.
Furthermore, Iran has managed to design,
manufacture and launch into orbit several light satellites for various national
uses.
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