January 26, 2002	Saturday	Ziqa’ad 11, 1422

TEHRAN, Jan 25: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan arrived in Tehran on Friday evening from Kabul for two days of meetings with Iranian leaders on the rebuilding of Afghanistan.

“Iran is an important country which has good relations with Afghanistan, and I think it can play an important role for the reconstruction of Afghanistan,” Annan said while talking to reporters upon his arrival.

“All neighbouring countries should play such a role,” said the UN chief, who was accompanied by the UN’s top envoy to Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi.

Annan also paid tribute to Iran’s role in hosting Afghan refugees.

“Iran played a very important role in welcoming the refugees,” Annan said.

Annan also praised “Iran’s important actions in the war against drugs”, a reference to Iran’s efforts to staunch heroin routes cutting across its border from Afghanistan.—AFP