Wade Wanting Better Ties with Iran

The Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade paid a three day state visit to Iran (22-24 December 2003) at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Khatami. Accompanying President Wade were ministers of foreign affairs, economy and finance, energy and mines, culture, industries and education as well as several other state officials and company owners. A joint communiqué and five documents for cooperation in political, cultural and economic fields were signed between the two countries at the end of President Wade’s visit.

Iran and Senegal have indicated a strong resolution in recent months to boost the volume of economic exchanges, including through forming a joint commission and Tehran’s granting of a 20-million-dollar credit line to Senegal. Senegal has supported Iran in recent years despite facing pressures from the powerful countries, especially in the case of a UN resolution seeking to condemn the Islamic Republic for alleged human rights violations.

Khatami, Wade Call for Stronger Ties: President Khatami and his Senegal counterpart voiced firm willingness to expand Tehran-Dakar ties and cooperation. Speaking at a ceremony to officially welcome Wade, Khatami regretted that despite the existing potentials relations between the two countries were not at a desirable level.   

Iran and Senegal signed a join communiqué and five documents for cooperation in political, cultural and economic fields.

He hailed Senegal as an important country not only in West Africa but in the entire continent, pursuing an active policy as was evident from its active and effective role in the UN, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the G-77.                               

Wade also voiced dissatisfaction with the present level of ties between Tehran and Dakar and said many goods transported to his country could find their way there through Iran because Senegalese people favor expansion of South-South cooperation, especially among Muslim states.

In the course of his formal talks with President Wade, Khatami said a new chapter had opened for bilateral cooperation and hoped that Senegal’s presidential visit would help develop relations and serve international peace and security.   

President Wade expressed pleasure with his visit and said Iran and Senegal hold similar views about the need to develop bilateral cooperation. He further called for contribution of the Islamic nations to the cause of development in Africa and said Dakar was keen on boosting relations with Tehran.                      

He also voiced interest in cooperation with Iran in the field of industries, agriculture, oil and energy and the Information Technology (IT).

Islamic Solidarity: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said at a meeting with President Wade that in the past century the Senegalese had contributed a lot to propagation of Islam in Africa and that the Islamic sentiment of Senegal was a powerful motive for Iran’s interest in boosting relations with that country.                                                         

The Supreme Leader said exchange of views among the Islamic nations was effective to reinforce solidarity and helping resolve the crises from which the Muslim world was suffering. He also supported a decision by the Organization of the Islamic Conference to hold its next summit in Dakar in 2006.                                

Meeting with Iranian Officials: Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamal Kharrazi held talks with Senegalese President exchanging viewpoints on issues of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation. Kharrazi said that President Wade’s state visit had turned a new page in the two Islamic countries’ relations and would hopefully boost bilateral cooperation in various fields.

“There are lots of unused potentials for broadening ties, and the two countries need to hold expert level consultations to exploit all such potentials, including dispatching economic, technical, scientific, and academic delegations to each other’s cities to that end.”

Referring to the capabilities of the Iranian technical and engineering firms in setting up factories, running mining activities, road, dams, and other types of constructions needing high-tech expertise, Kharrazi said, “Bilateral talks on trade ties, establishment of industrial and trade fairs, and exports of agricultural, mining, and oil drilling machines needed by Senegal mean that the future ties will be quite promising.”                                            

President Wade announced Senegal’s interest in buying cement factories and the relative technical know-how, and oil industry machinery and expertise. President Wade also expressed interest in trade and industrial exhibitions, particularly in holding automobile exhibitions by Iran in Senegal.

President Wade also referred to the active and constructive role played by Iran in Afghanistan and Iraq developments, asking for close consultations between the two countries’ diplomats at international organizations.                              

Iranian Women’s Achievements: Senegal’s first lady Viviane Wade hailed as “highly positive” Iranian women’s educational achievements and the rate of their employment. Wade made the remarks in a meeting with a group of Iranian female lawmakers, including Shahrbanou Amani and Fatemeh Haqiqatjou.        

Amani told Mrs. Wade that Women’s Faction at the Majlis had been successful to receive necessary guarantees for financial and moral well-being of Iranian women and have several bills concerning women passed at the parliament.                                                 

Haqiqatjou told Mrs. Wade that women MPs had managed to have several laws on women’s civil rights, judicial proceeding, employment and education undergo amendment. She said women constitute about 800 of hopefuls for the seventh Majlis elections, slated for 20 February 2004. She also said women have strong presence in various political and economic fields.

Signing of Documents: Iran and Senegal signed a join communiqué and five documents for cooperation in political, cultural and economic fields. The documents were signed in the presence of the Iranian and Senegalese presidents.

An agreement on lifting visa requirement for government and political passports, executive projects for scientific and cultural cooperation, memoranda of understanding on fishery cooperation, cooperation between Export Development Bank of Iran (EDBI) and Senegal’s Power Company and cooperation between Iran’s Energy Ministry and Senegal’s Ministry of Mining and Energy were signed by the two sides.                          

Based on a memorandum of understanding signed by Iran’s Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi and his Senegalese counterpart Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, the two countries’ citizens who have political and service passports will require no entry visa. The two ministers also inked a memorandum of understanding on fishery cooperation.

Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ahmad Masjedjamei and his Senegalese counterpart Saphietou Diop signed a document to expand cultural, tourism and scientific cooperation.                                                         

According to an MoU signed by EDBI head Norouz Kahzadi and head of Senegal’s Power Company, all expenses for a two-year project to establish a 185-km power transmission line between two Senegalese cities will be borne by Iran. Iran’s Energy Minister Habibollah Bitaraf and Senegalese Minister of Mining and Energy Madicke Niang also inked a memorandum of understanding to expand bilateral cooperation.                        

Auto Import: The Senegalese President said on the sidelines of his tour of Iran’s car manufacturing giant, Iran Khodro Industrial Group that his country is ready to purchase and import different kinds of cars, intercity cars and trucks from Iran Khodro.

Wade said Senegal is a lucrative market for Iranian industrial products. Deputy Managing Director of Iran Khodro Javad Dehnavi said his company is ready to help Senegal reconstruct and equip its transportation fleet. Dehnavi said Iran Khodro’s products are exported to 32 countries and the company is ready to provide Senegal with as many cars as it requires at fair prices and conditions.