Iran, Switzerland keen to expand humanitarian aid cooperation

Iranian and Swiss officials in a meeting in Switzerland underlined the need for the further expansion of bilateral ties in area of humanitarian aids. During the meeting in the Swiss city of Geneva, Head of Iranian Red Crescent Society’s Humanitarian Programs Davoud Pourkhanali and Head of Switzerland's Humanitarian Aid Department Manuel Bessler explored avenues for bolstering and reinvigorating mutual cooperation between the two countries. Pourkhanali pointed to the current status of Iran-Switzerland cooperation in humanitarian fields, and thanked the Swiss government for helping the quake-stricken people of Iran’s Northwestern West Azarbaijan in August 2012. Bessler, for his part, stressed cooperation between the Swiss Foreign Ministry and praised Iran for providing swift and effective assistance to the people affected by disasters outside Iran. The two sides agreed to increase the level of their mutual cooperation in the field of humanitarian aid. Iran and Switzerland have tried to expand their bilateral relations in recent years through reciprocal visits by the two countries' officials. In December, Head of Iran-Switzerland Parliamentary Friendship Group Abbasali Mansouri Arani and Swiss Ambassador to Tehran Giulio Haas explored avenues for bolstering and consolidating the relations between Iran and Switzerland. Mansouri Arani pointed to the status quo in Iran-Swiss relations, and said, “The ties between Iran and Switzerland have had many ups and downs, but Switzerland has always been seen as a very good (trade) partner of Iran.” Mansouri Arani pointed to the Iranian parliament’s readiness to invite members of the Switzerland-Iran Parliamentary Friendship Group to Iran, and said, “… the parliaments of the two countries should make a better use of the current opportunity.” The Swiss ambassador, for his part, pointed to the importance of the consolidation of Iran-Switzerland relations, and said, “My mission to Iran is aimed at a remarkable improvement of the relations between the two countries and I assure you that expansion of parliamentary relations between the two countries will be among my important duties because both of us have a common goal and we should cooperate for achieving that goal."