OGRepublic August Edition

SPECIAL FEATURES
GECF Sec-Gen participates in Inauguration Ceremony of
HE Ebrahim Raisi, the new Iranian President
H
E Yury Sentyurin, the Gas Exporting
Countries Forum (GECF) Secretary
General participated in the
inauguration ceremony of HE Seyed
Ebrahim Raisi, the President of Islamic
Republic Iran and held high-level bilateral
meetings during his mission to Tehran,
Islamic Republic of Iran.
The invitation to the swearing-in ceremony
extended to the Forum’s Secretary General
added a new dimension to the historic ties
between the coalition, comprising of 18
countries today, and one of its founding
Member Countries, Iran.
“Diplomacy must strengthen the bonds
among nations of the region and
strengthen their common grounds in the
fields of economy, culture, science and
technology. The world is changing and the
interests o f n ations d epend o n
understanding the new world and strategic
interaction with emerging powers, and a
successful foreign policy will be a balanced
foreign policy,” HE Ayatollah Raisi asserted
in his statement.
The new President takes office at a time
when Iran is moving toward a resuscitation
of the economy using domestic capacities
as a solution for existing problems. Using
domestic capacities was one of the pieces
of advice given by HE Grand Ayatollah
Sayyed Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader
of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the
incoming President Raisi during the
Inauguration Ceremony.
“There are myriad capacities in the
country. We have extraordinary capacities
in the area of water, oil, mining, extensive
domestic markets, relations with neighbors,
and the astonishing talents and enthusiasm of
our youth. Undoubtedly, these our capacities
can overcome the problems provided that they
are identified correctly, worked on and utilised
efficiently. This requires round-the-clock and
untiring diligence,” HE Ayatollah Khamenei.
“We use all the tools of national power,
including diplomacy and intelligent interaction
with the world, to ensure the national interests
of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” HE President
Raisi underlined his willingness to work with
foreign countries and boost Iran’s relations with
the world.
Iran, which boasts one of the largest proven
natural gas reserves in the world, enjoys a
prominent position in the energy world and
stood at the very foundation of OPEC and the
International Energy Forum (IEF) and the GECF.
At the GECF, echoing the success of the 3rd
GECF Summit held in Tehran in 2015,
throughout 2014-2018 the Islamic Republic
played the stewardship role in our association
with a national representative serving as the
GECF Secretary General. Furthermore,
operating at all levels of the Secretariat staff
ranking – from leadership to junior positions –
Iranians form the largest national group at the
GECF’s headquarters in Doha, Qatar,
symbolising the positive contribution of Iran in
the GECF community.
“The seeds of the GECF were planted in Iran in
2001. Since then, the Founder Member Country
has contributed substantially to the
advancement and worldwide influence of the
Forum,” wrote HE Sentyurin in his Goodwill
Letter, addressed to the new President and
delivered at the swearing-in ceremony.
“I attach sincere hope that the GECF will
continue to receive steadfast support from Iran
with the hallmark Iranian poise, diligence, and
wisdom that have always served as a source of
inspiration for us,” the Secretary General
added.
The ceremony was attended by a number of
world leaders, top-ranking dignitaries, senior
officials, as well as heads of international
organisations.
On the sidleines of the swearing-in ceremony
the GECF Secretary General held a working
meeting with his counterpart HE Mohammad
Sanusi Barkindo, OPEC Secretary General, who
was invited to participate in the proceedings.
The heads of the energy associations revised
the ongoing cooperation and matters of mutual
concern.
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