Colombian Congress President Armando Benedetti has met with Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Behrouz Kamalvandi to discuss improving ties between the two countries, Iranian state channel Press TV reported Saturday.
Most prominent among the topics discussed were the promotion of mutual parliamentary relations and the development of economic relations.
Both men expressed their desire to cooperate on the economic front with Kamalvandi stating his belief the private sector should play an active role in this development. Benedetti assured Kamalvandi that economic ties would expand in the future and that the Colombian Congress is ready to facilitate this.
Each side also promoted the legislative and electoral procedures within their respective countries, with Kamaldavi claiming Iran’s Parliament to be one of the most effective legislative bodies in the world.
The meeting ended with an invitation for Benedetti to travel to Iran, an invitation which Benedetti said he was willing to accept.
Kamaldavi is travelling through Latin America to visit state representatives in the hope of boosting ties in the region.
His visit to Colombia is particularly interesting in light of its current position in the UN Security Council as chair of the Iran Sanctions Committee and Colombia’s historically close relationship with the U.S.