Ahmadinejad Highlights Strong Solidarity among Muslims

(FNA)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a meeting with Beninese counterpart Thomas Boni Yayi stressed the strong and inseparable bonds among Muslim states.

"The Islamic countries have always sided with each other and periodic and transient events cannot divide them," Ahmadinejad said at the meeting Thursday evening.

He voiced Tehran's preparedness to share its experiences with friendly and brotherly countries.

During the meeting held on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit, the Beninese president expressed the African country's willingness to expand ties with the Islamic Republic.

Benin Republic is located in West Africa and neighbors Niger in the north, Nigeria in the east, Togo in the west, and Benin Gulf in the south.

Tehran has prioritized promotion of its economic and political ties with the African states and the country is now considered as one of the African Union's strategic partners.

Tehran's efforts to boost ties and cooperation with Africa have led to its acceptance as an observing member of the African Union (AU), where it has shown an active presence in the AU summit meetings.