TMCnet News
Iranian lawmakers praise former FM's servicesTEHRAN, Dec 26, 2010 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Iranian lawmakers on Sunday in a statement praised former Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki for his services for the Islamic Republic during his five-year tenure since 2005, the local satellite Press TV reported. In a statement issued on Sunday, 260 Iranian lawmakers praised Mottaki's services as the ex-foreign minister and also said that his great management background in different posts inside and outside the country reflected his abilities in various fields of Iran's foreign policy. They expressed optimism that capabilities of Mottaki would be further utilized to service the Islamic establishment. Mottaki was dismissed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in December, the first reshuffle in Ahmadinejad's second term in office, when he was on an African trip and was temporarily replaced by head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali-Akbar Salehi, who is also Iran's vice president. Mottaki described this manner of replacing a minister during an official mission as "un-Islamic, undiplomatic and insulting." Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani later criticized the " inappropriate" removal of Mottaki on his trip to Senegal. Iran's presidential office said that Mottaki had already been notified about his replacement which Mottaki denied. |