UN Continues the Dialogue with Iran on Regional Peace, Security— UN Deputy Secretary-General

Deputy United Nations Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said here Monday that Iran has considerable influence in the region and we at the United Nations continue the dialogue with Iran on how it can contribute to regional peace and security, AVA Diplomatic reports.

 “I am hopeful that new avenues to peaceful conditions will open, now that there has been a historic agreement between Iran and the P5+1 countries, welcomed by a great majority of Member States,” he added.

Addressing a ceremony marking the 70th Anniversary of the United Nations at Foreign Ministry’s Iranian Centre for International Conferences, Eliasson said that agreement showed the immense value of patient and skilful diplomacy.

“I am confident that the same spirit can be mobilised to address other troubling issues and situations. We all have an interest in peace and security in the region,” he said.

Referring to UN-Iran cooperation, Deputy Secretary-General said Iran is a founding Member State of the United Nations and this country, through the Tehran Declaration of 1943, is closely associated with the birth of the Organization. So, our celebration today has historic roots in your country. He pointed out that over the decades, Iran and the United Nations have cooperated in many areas.

He said that one of Iran’s most important contributions has been to host one of the largest refugee populations in the world over the past three decades.

“We are grateful to Iran for receiving millions of Afghans, and for its close cooperation with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR),” he said adding that with the current refugee crises in the Middle East and Africa, we see a growing challenge to mobilise greater solidarity and to offer constructive solutions.

Deputy Secretary-General said Iran has made important strides in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Per capita income has doubled since 1980. Life expectancy has risen considerably. School enrolment is rising. Women now make up more than half of all university students in the country. Iran is one of the few countries to have reached the MDG on maternal mortality and is on track to substantially reduce child mortality.

More than 900 guests and large number of journalists participated in the UN70th Anniversary

“For all this, the United Nations congratulates you and wishes you continued progress with the new transformative Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted at the Summit in New York on September 25,” he said.

Also addressing the audience Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Legal and International Affairs Dr. Abbas Araghchi pointed to the numerous issues including crises in different countries over the past 70 years and added that, “in the case of all these crises, the United Nations was able to face the challenge leading us to the current situation and era.”

Reminding that the Islamic Republic of Iran has become a reliable nation, the official deemed Iran as ‘the island of stability in the region’ which can help maintain the security of all countries in the region.

 “The UN was founded to set a ground for changing the view from conflict to common understanding so that different nations can express their differences,” he said adding that over the past few weeks, the UN has tried to take part in the affected parts of the world but all these efforts must continue.

Iran’s deputy FM further stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran has always been an active partner of the UN by offering positive contribution particularly with regard to the Sustainable Development Program.

UN Resident Coordinator and UNIC Director a.i. Gary Lewis quoted the UN Charter and shared his personal story why he joined the UN. He also highlighted the role of Iran in the establishment of UN and spoke about 70 years of partnership and productive cooperation with Iranian partners.