Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and the visiting UAE Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan bin Zaydan al-Nahyan held a meeting on Monday during which they called for expansion of ties between the two countries. In the meeting, Khatami said the current sensitive situation of the region requires implementation of security arrangements by regional states. He noted that any tension in the region would affect the world negatively, while security and stability in the Gulf would benefit the whole world and help development in the regional states. In his view "The nations and states of the region are fully capable of keeping the region secure and stable with their combined power."

Khatami stressed the "important role" of Iran and the UAE in assuring security and stability in the Persian Gulf adding that the determination of senior officials of both countries to upgrade political ties and the big volume of trade between them will further improve their relations.

The President said Iran views the UAE as an independent, powerful and developed country and believes that nothing can prevent Tehran and Abu Dhabi from enhancing their ties. Pointing to Iran's policy of détente and its efforts to bolster cooperation with neighboring and other countries, he said Iran's Government and people are determined to move toward establishing an exemplary relationship with the United Arab Emirates.

As regards other subjects, Khatami said that Iran supports the Afghan Interim Administration and would contribute to the reconstruction efforts for war-torn Afghanistan and to restoring its stability. However, he expressed concern over the heightened tensions between Pakistan and India and called for the settlement of issues between the two countries through dialogue.

Khatami praised the position of the UAE Government on the Palestine issue cause and called for solidarity in the Islamic world to confront the Zionist threat and to put an end to the suffering of the Palestinians.

The UAE Minister for Foreign Affairs presented a written message from the UAE Emir Sheikh Zayed an-Nahyan to President Khatami. He noted that the two countries have common views on many international issues and that the UAE wants to diversify and consolidate ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The UAE Foreign Minister repeated an invitation previously extended by Sheikh Zayed an-Nahyan to President Khatami to visit his country. Khatami expressed the wish to visit the UAE in the near future.