'Iran, Cuba must counter imperialism'

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has stressed the importance of reinforcing unity and solidarity between the Iranian and Cuban nations to stand up to the extremism of the US-led imperialism. In a Thursday meeting with Cuban President Raul Castro in Havana, Ahmadinejad urged the two countries to bolster regional cooperation with regard to great mutual potential. Iran and Cuba can take effective strides towards resistance against enemies of justice and humanity by enhancing regional cooperation, he stated. The Cuban president, for his part, lauded his country's growing relations with Iran and called for the promotion of ties in all spheres. Castro added that the constructive and positive convergence of Latin American countries herald an independent and free Latin America. He stated that free nations should reinforce unity to achieve independence and establish sustainable peace. Iran's president is on a five-day tour of four Latin America countries. He arrived in the Cuban capital on Wednesday on the third leg of his tour after he paid visits to Venezuela and Nicaragua. The Iranian chief executive will visit Ecuador on the final leg of his five-day tour. Leaders in all the four Latin American countries have in recent years built up diplomatic and trade ties with Iran, while their relations with the United States have been greatly reduced in response to popular demands for an end to dependence on Washington.