TEHRAN, June 20 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic and his Iranian host, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, on Wednesday expressed satisfaction with the talks they had held during Mesic's visit to Tehran. Mesic arrived in
Tehran on Monday evening on a three-day official visit to Iran, at the invitation of the Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. Mesic was the first Croatian head of state to visit this 65-million country rich in oil. He was also the first president of a foreign country to arrive in Tehran for talks with Khatami after his landslide victory of the recent presidential election which enabled him to take the second term of office as the President of Iran. The two heads of state considered the bilateral ties and the situation in the regions such as south eastern Europe and the Near East. On Wednesday evening Khatami and his guest held the final round of talks. After that they issued a
TEHRAN, June 20 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic and his
Iranian host, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, on Wednesday
expressed satisfaction with the talks they had held during Mesic's
visit to Tehran.
Mesic arrived in Tehran on Monday evening on a three-day official
visit to Iran, at the invitation of the Iranian President Mohammad
Khatami. Mesic was the first Croatian head of state to visit this
65-million country rich in oil. He was also the first president of a
foreign country to arrive in Tehran for talks with Khatami after his
landslide victory of the recent presidential election which
enabled him to take the second term of office as the President of
Iran.
The two heads of state considered the bilateral ties and the
situation in the regions such as south eastern Europe and the Near
East.
On Wednesday evening Khatami and his guest held the final round of
talks. After that they issued a joint statement describing their
meetings as important and constructive and pointing out the
friendship and cooperation between Iran and Croatia.
The two parties have underlined the enhancement of the relations in
all the fields in compliance with their joint interest and
expressed satisfaction with the existing cooperation of Iran and
Croatia in international organisations, particularly in the UN,
their joint statement read.
The two statesmen assess that the regional and international
stability, security, welfare and progress can be achieved only
through cooperation and dialogue between all countries.
The statement's segment tackling the Balkans reads that it is
necessary to maintain peace and stability in that region without
changes of the borders and that it is also necessary to protect
national and religious communities.
The two presidents emphasise the necessity of maintaining the
entire Bosnia-Herzegovina, and express their support to the Dayton
peace accords adding that the Dayton deal did stop the war but what
remains to be done is to establish a permanent peace.
The statement comments on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian
people reading that the Near East needs a just peace.
The Croatian and Iranian heads of state point to agreement of the
two countries on close cooperation in the fight against
international terrorism, organised crime and smuggling of drugs
and humans.
They have promised to take effective steps to help the UN to
accomplish its goals referring to the World Organisation's year
dedicated to the dialogue among civilisations, at Iran's
proposal.
After their talks, the two parties signed a few agreements which
should contribute to the promotion of the Iranian-Croatian ties.
The agreements are on the cooperation of the two countries' foreign
ministries, chambers of commerce and on the cooperation in economy
and agriculture.
On Thursday Mesic is travelling to the city of Shiraz and to one of
the most impressive of all archaeological sites in Iran,
Persepolis, situated 38 miles of Shiraz. After that he comes back to
Zagreb.
(hina) ms