In a meeting with Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Lydie Polfer, President Khatami said that Iran is willing to develop cooperation with Luxembourg.

He said that the destiny of the world nations are interdependent so hat they have no way but to foster understanding, justice and co-existence.

President Khatami emphasized the need to put an end to extortion and imposition of one's view on the others resorting to economic and military power and said that the human being has paid the price in the past century with suffering and violence and is currently in need of dialogue and understanding to resolve the conflicts.

Use of force to solve the problems represents the backward mentality of those who resort to it, the president said.

Referring to the international developments in the year 2001, President Khatami regretted that war and the ugly terror took place in the year of dialogue of civilizations and said that unfortunately, advocates of violence gave a negative reply to the peace-seeking call of 'dialogue of civilizations'.

"It is regrettable that certain war-mongering politicians are beating the drums of war," the president said.

"Is it right certain politicians relying on economic and military power make affront to other nations and call them 'evil' while they are currently supporting the 'most evil', aggression and violence," President Khatami said.

He said that the Palestinian nation are suffering from suppression and are deprived of their basic rights. "Why is the United States, which regards itself advocate of campaign against terrorism, rendering the highest possible support to a regime which carries out targeted terrorist attacks against its opponents?

"The Europeans and intellectuals of all nations have protested the crimes perpetrated against defenseless Palestinians and the inaccurate policy of the US in this respect. Why don't the US officials give up their wrong policy and observe justice?" President Khatami said.

He said that US president's policy has been condemned by the entire world. Only the president's aides are supporting the policy. Why do they continue their past mistakes?, the president asked.

President Khatami said that the international community is in dire need of dialogue of civilizations which has been welcomed by the world peace loving intellectuals.

On Iran-EU relations, President Khatami said that Iran has excellent relations with the European Union and Tehran is interested in developing multi-lateral ties with Luxembourg-Ville on economic areas.

He pointed to the signing of a joint investment accord between the two countries and said that Iran welcomes participation of foreign investors in Iran's development projects.

The president said that Iran and Luxembourg would cooperate in the field of oil and gas.

Mrs. Polfer said that the European Union and Luxembourg have decided to develop relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

She called for cultural exchanges between Iran and Luxembourg and said that Luxembourg, as the president of Council of Europe, is keen to boost cultural relations with Iran.

The Luxembourg deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and trade appreciated President Khatami for making the proposal to the international community to hold dialogue of civilizations (in the year 2001).

She said that dialogue of civilizations is a means to remove misunderstanding and conflicts whose importance became clear after September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

Polfer admired the achievements of the Iranian nation and government in promoting democratic drive in line with the Islamic criteria.

The European Union is keen to hear the idea of the Iranian nation and government, she said.

Iran, Luxembourg call for expansion of mutual ties

At the meeting, Ms. Polfer described Iran as an important country in the region with positive impacts on international relations and that is why Europe including Luxembourg is willing to broaden ties with this country.

Highlighting the two sides' economic capacities as a means of expanding trade and industrial cooperation, she called for removal of existing hurdles and for facilitation of trade exchanges between the two countries.

Underlining the European countries' determination to broaden ties with Iran, she expressed hope that through constant contacts and exchange of visits between the two sides officials, grounds would be prepared for mutual understanding.

Elaborating on Iran's outstanding role in resolving regional crises such as those in Afghanistan and the Middle East, she called for continuation of bilaetral cooperation in international fora inlcuding the United Nations Organization.

Welcoming expansion of political, economic, cultural and parliamentary relations between the two countries, she called for further acceleration of such atrend.

The Iranian foreign minister, welcomed promotion of Iran- Luxembourg relations and described the two sides cooperation as being in line with the interests of both countries.

Referring to the potentialities of Iran and Luxembourg in various areas, he called for expansion of economic, trade and industrial cooperation between the two countries.

Kharrazi voiced Iran's readiness to broaden mutual, regional and international cooperation with the European countries and Luxembourg in particular and welcomed more active role of the European Union in resolving the Middle East crisis.

America's full support for the Zionist regime has led to continuation of violence and massacre of the oppressed Palestinians, he said calling on the international community to exert more pressure on Israel to withdraw from the occupied land.

The only way to put an end to violence in the Middle East is the restoration of the Palestinian people's legitimate rights as well as return of refugees to their motherland, Kharrazi said.

The two ministers also exchanged views on the latest international developments such as those in Afghanistan and the Middle East.