General News of Tuesday, 16 April 2013
Source: citifmonline
Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon Hanna Tetteh has expressed surprise at the concerns raised by the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana concerning the arrival of the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in Ghana.
“I am surprised that she [Israeli Ambassador] did not call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs to understand the context in which this meeting is taking place. It only begins to frame the question in the context of Her Excellency the Israeli Ambassador’s concerns. Are you Ghanaian or pro Israeli?” she questioned.
Speaking on Eyewitness News, Hon Tetteh stated that Ghana was a democratic country and understood how important it was to maintain international peace and stability.
“As far as Ghana is concerned, we are a democratic country and very much appreciate the fact that it is important to maintain international peace and stability. We are also very concerned about keeping that discussion ongoing which is around all the different international parties and partners to have discussions with each other on matters of security concerns.”
With President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expected to arrive in the country on Tuesday, Israel has cautioned Ghana to be wary of her relations with Iran so as not to be categorised as a country that is legitimizing the Iranian regime.
According to the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Ms Sharon Bar-Li, Ghana as a sovereign State was capable of putting into perspective the terrorist operations of the Iranian regime around the world and its national interest.
On Wednesday morning, President Ahmadinejad is expected to visit the Iranian clinic which is an investment in healthcare by the government of Iran.
There will be some bilateral discussions and he will meet with the Union community.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday embarked on his tour of West Africa, which will take him to Benin, Niger, and Ghana.
Before leaving Tehran, Ahmadinejad told reporters that the expansion of ties with African countries is one of Iran’s foreign policy priorities.