‘Support for terror hinders democracy’

“Democracy cannot be established in a country through financial, military and intelligence support for terrorists,” Larijani said in a meeting with Vice President of the German Parliament (Bundestag) Claudia Roth in Tehran on Sunday.

Iranian Majlis speaker stressed the importance of boosting political, economic and parliamentary interaction between Iran and Germany, saying, “Regular consultation and negotiations about important regional and international issues can lead to the expansion of mutual relations in various fields.”

The German parliamentarian, for her part, said war and bloodshed must immediately stop in Syria, adding that negotiations among powerful countries in the region, particularly Iran, can help end the ongoing crisis in the Arab state.

Roth said Iran and Germany have great potential in political and economic sectors which would help them tackle violence and establish stability and peace in the region.

Syria crisis

Syria has been grappling with a deadly crisis since March 2011. The violence fueled by Takfiri groups has so far claimed the lives of over 200,000 people, according to reports. New figures show that over 76,000 people, including thousands of children, lost their lives in Syria last year.

Over 7.2 million Syrians have also become internally displaced due to the ongoing crisis, according to the United Nations.

Western powers and their regional allies - especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey - are supporting the militants operating in Syria.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to push ahead with its efforts to root out terrorism in the country and establish national reconciliation.
/SR