Khatami says his trip to help establish peace in region

IRNA, Iran
Sept 8 2004

Tehran, Sept 8, IRNA — President Mohammad Khatami here Wednesday
expressed the hope that his regional tour will help establish peace
and regional solidarity.

The Iranian President made the remarks prior to his departure for
Yerevan, the Republic of Armenia, in the first leg of his regional
tour which will also take him to Belarus and Tajikistan.

Terming Iran`s bilateral relations with the three countries as
friendly, he said the Islamic Republic welcomes amicable relations
with the regional countries in line with the establishment of stability
and unity in the entire region.

He also hoped that the existing relations will further profound by
signing several agreements during his regional tour of the three
countries.

Khatami reiterated that his visits to Armenia and Belarus are in
response to visits to Tehran of his two counterparts.

As to Iran-Tajikistan close relations, he said the two countries
share many cultural commonalities. The Islamic Republic is taking
part in several major projects in Tajikistan, he added.

The president further announced that he is to attend the summit meeting
of the member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
on the last day of his visit to Tajikistan.

Expansion of bilateral cooperation as well as the latest regional
and international developments will top the agenda of talks to be
held between the Iranian delegation and senior officials of the three
regional countries.

Heading a high-ranking delegation, Khatami`s one-week visit is taking
place at the official invitations of his counterparts Robert Kocharian,
Aleksandr Lukashenko and Emomali Rakhmonov of Armenia, Belarus and
Tajikistan, respectively.

Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, Energy Minister Habibollah Bitaraf,
Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Safdar Hosseini and

Commerce Minister Mohammad Shariatmadari are accompanying President
Khatami in his regional tour.