Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said here Monday that Iran was absent from Paris meeting on Afghanistan over remarks of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the official IRNA news agency reported.
"The recent undiplomatic remarks of French President Nicolas Sarkozy were the main reason for Iran's absence from Paris conference," Qashqavi said.
Iran's withdrawal from the meeting on Afghanistan was seen as a protest to French president's criticizing remarks made last week against his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the constant threats posed by him against Israel.
Iran's foreign ministry summoned the French ambassador in Tehran to protest the remarks made by Sarkozy last week.
Iran had always been interested in the establishment of peace, stability and security in Afghanistan and the country's developments, Qashqavi outlined in his weekly press conference.
However, the necessary measures to improve situation in Afghanistan had not been taken by the foreign forces present there, he added.
On Tuesday, the French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner in a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki invited him to attend the meeting on Afghanistan in Paris on Sunday.
Afghanistan and its neighbors, in the absence of Iran, discussed security issues, drugs trafficking and regional cooperation at the meeting in Paris on Sunday.
Source:Xinhua
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