Tehran, Oct 27, IRNA -- Swiss Foreign Minister Joseph Deiss stressed here Sunday that his country respected Iran's independence on human rights, despite having some reservations on the issue.

Talking to reporters during a joint news conference Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, Deiss said he had conveyed Bern's views on the matter in talks with Iranian officials, but rejected that Switzerland had set any preconditions in that effect.

"Human rights is an important issue for Switzerland and I had the chance to convey to the Iranian side some specific points which are important from our country's perspective," he said.

"We are emphatic on respect for human rights, but we only express our views and do not seek to interfere in internal affairs of any country," Deiss added.

Kharrazi described his talks with the Swiss foreign minister as 'very positive' and echoed his statements that no precondition had been set in the discussions.

"There was no talk of any precondition, but we believe that the issue of human rights must be discussed to reach an understanding and cultural as well as religious roots of differences of views be clarified," he said.

Kharrazi said the Iranian side had declared its reservations over a set of human rights issues in western countries.

"I explained that on the issue of punishment by hanging for example ... the execution is carried out in many countries and it is included among Islamic laws," he added.

Deiss, for his part, further described relations between Tehran and Bern as 'very good and dynamic', adding he had conveyed an invitation for President Mohammad Khatami to visit Switzerland.

In talks with Iranian Minister of Economy and Finance, the two sides discussed ways of expanding their trade cooperation, he added.

"We are very keen to bolster economic cooperation and believe that a framework must be set to expand economic ties," Deiss said.

During the Swiss foreign minister's visit, Iran and Switzerland signed an accord on avoiding double taxation which, Deiss said will create better opportunities for investment in Iran by Swiss entrepreneurs.

Deiss arrived here early Sunday for a two-day visit on Kharrazi's invitation. During his stay in the Iranian capital, he will hold talks with Iranian officials to explore possible avenues for bolstering bilateral ties and various issues of international concern such as Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East.

He called on President Mohammad Khatami and will also confer with Parliament Speaker Mehdi Karroubi, Expediency Council Chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Supreme National Security Council Chairman Hassan Rowhani and Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Chairman Mohsen Mirdamadi as well as Vice-President and Head of the Environment Protection Organization Masoumeh Ebtekar.

Iran, Belgium call for expansion of mutual ties

Tehran, Oct 27, IRNA -- Visiting Belgium Deputy Foreign Minister Annemie Neyts conferred here on Sunday with Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi on issues of mutual interests.

At the meeting, Neyts termed the existing level of mutual relations as 'satisfactory' and voiced her country's willingness to broaden the ties.

Supporting investors and holding commercial exhibitions can help expand and consolidate mutual cooperation, she said.

Referring to Tehran-Brussels ties during Belgium's chairmanship of the European Union, she said the period opened a new phase in expediting the growth in bilateral relations.

Describing Iran's role in the region as very 'significant', she called for exchange of views on regional development mainly those in Afghanistan and the reconstruction of the war-stricken country.

Kharrazi, for his part, welcomed the expansion of contacts as well as upgrading level of mutual cooperation and said that the two countries enjoy very high potentials to foster mutual ties and hold regular and periodical meetings to forge greater understanding between the two countries.

He called for expansion of economic cooperation and removal of obstacles in the way of sound economic cooperation, and also underlined the important role of governmental and private sectors in broadening such ties.

Referring to the current developments in Afghanistan, he called for firm international determination to help accelerate the reconstruction process in the war-ravaged country.

Calling for political means to put an end to the Iraq crisis, he voiced the concern of Iran as well as other countries in the region about the dimensions of crisis in case of military attack to Iraq.

The Belgium deputy foreign minister, who is heading a delegation from European parliament as well as Belgium officials, addressed a gathering at the Foreign Ministry's Institute of Political and International Studies on Saturday.