Ahmadenijad visits Benin on W. Africa tour

Energy, health, tourism MOU to be signed

COTONOU, April 14, (AFP): Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad left for Benin on Sunday for his first stop on a three-nation west African tour that will also take him to Ghana and Niger, the world’s fourth-largest uranium producer.

Energy will be high on Ahmadinejad’s agenda during the trip and Benin said talks with President Thomas Boni Yayi would also focus on education and agriculture.

According to the World Nuclear Association industry group, uranium from landlocked Niger is trucked to ports in neighbouring Benin for export, with most of it sent to Areva subsidiary Comurhex in France. Iran is in need of uranium for its disputed nuclear programme, but Benin’s foreign minister said Ahmadinejad’s visits to the two countries were not linked.

The Iranian leader, set to leave office after June elections following his constitutionally limited two terms, will depart Benin on Monday following his Sunday afternoon arrival and travel to Niger.

He then heads to Ghana on Tuesday for his final stop before departing Wednesday. Ghana, seen as a rare example of stable democracy in often volatile West Africa, is a major producer of gold and cocoa with a nascent oil industry.

“During our trip to Benin, Niger and Ghana, we will ... take long strides in boosting comprehensive ties,” Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying before leaving Tehran.

“Different memorandums of understanding in the fields of energy, commerce, culture, tourism and health will be signed.”

Astatement from Benin’s foreign ministry on Sunday said Ahmadinejad’s visit to the country of some nine million people was in connection with his position as chairman of the NonAligned Movement of countries.

Iran has also financed the construction of an ampitheatre at Benin’s University of Abomey-Calavi, according to Foreign Minister Nassirou Arifari Bako.

Bako told AFP Ahmadinejad’s talks in Benin were not linked to his visit to Niger.

“We know nothing about the discussions with Niger,” he said.

Niger is one of the world’s top producers of uranium, which Iran has long been seeking to acquire for its controversial nuclear programme.

Western powers suspect Tehran of developing a covert programme aimed at having the capacity to produce a nuclear bomb. Iran denies this and says its work is being conducted for energy and medical purposes.