Uganda To Open Embassy In Iran

TEHRAN, Friday- Tehran and Kampala on Thursday signed three cooperation agreement protocols as Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni wrapped up his two-day visit in Tehran with the announcement that his country would soon open an embassy in Iran, the state radio said. Museveni, who was the first foreign official to visit Tehran under Iranian President Mohammad Khatami’s second four-year term, headed in the evening to the western city of Tabriz, where he is due to visit several industrial centres Friday. Earlier, the two presidents attended a ceremony at the Saad-Abad Cultural Centre in Tehran for the signing of three cultural and scientific cooperation agreements, the radio said. The two countries also issued a joint political declaration announcing the future opening a Ugandan embassy in Tehran and supporting “the struggle of the Palestinian people.” Iran’s first ambassador to Uganda was appointed in 1999. During his official visit, Museveni reminded his hosts that Iran had granted Uganda a 10-million-dollar loan under former president Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, and said he hoped the air link between Tehran and Kampala would soon be reopened. The two countries also signed a joint communiqué and two protocols of understanding under which the two countries will consolidate further their cooperation in various economic fields. The documents, which were signed yesterday at the presidential palace in Tehran city include an Agreement on Bilateral Education, Science and Agriculture, which was signed by the Minister of Education, Kiddu Makubuya and the Iranian Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Mouini. They also signed other documents of bilateral cooperation between the Institute of Standards and Industries. Ends