HE 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 of nations depend on 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
