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Tehran, Aug 3, IRNA -- President Seyed Mohammad Khatami stressed the need for the regional countries to try to boost cooperation among them to be in a position to defend Islam as well as the peace and stability in the region.
In a meeting with the visiting Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, he commented on the strategic locations of Iran and Saudi Arabia and said the bilateral cooperation would benefit both states and the entire region.
The president said the interference of the big powers would threaten the peace and security of other countries and hence if the big powers continue their strong-arm methods to meddle in the internal affairs of other nations the global peace and security would be jeopardized.
He expressed concern over the US threats in the region and commented on the Iraqi issue.
Khatami said it would be preferential for the states neighbor to Iraq to convince the Iraqi authorities to respect the UN resolutions so as to prevent any assault on Iraq.
He touched on the Zionists criminal actions and said Israeli policies are disturbing peace in the Mideast.
The president expressed regret over the fact that the United States are unilaterally providing support for Israel.
He said the Muslim states are duty bound to support Palestinians, adding that a fair peace is only established by restoration of the rights of Palestinians to them.
Khatami was pleased with the good neighborly relations between Tehran and Riyadh and stressed the prime importance of the regular consultations between the two states on the global and regional issues.
Saud al-Faisal termed as "critical" the situation in the region and called for stronger unity and solidarity among the Muslim states under the present sensitive circumstances.
He said the Muslim countries have to boost the cooperation among them as a way to prevent foreign powers to abuse the difference of viewpoints and affinities and to fish in the troubled waters.
He said Israel is taking advantage of the situation in the region to present a deformed and ill image of Islam to the world peoples.
As for the Iraqi issue, he said the issue would not be solved through the military action since any attack on Iraq would cause Irreparable damage on the Iraqi people and other neighboring states.
He expressed concern about continued massacres of the Palestinians by the Zionist forces and condemned the Zionist regime for its efforts to escalate regional crisis.
In a meeting earlier today with his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi, Al-Faisal said his country is for restoration of the rights of Palestinians and looks at it as a means for restoration of permanent peace to the region.
He stressed the need for adoption of strategies to maintain stability and promote security in the region and said it is necessary for Muslim states to build up efforts to prevent distortion of Islamic feature and to present the peaceful feature of Islam and Muslims.
Prince Saud al-Faisal arrived here Saturday for a one-day visit.
Speaking to reporters upon arrival, he said that his visit is aimed at examining the stances of the two Islamic powerhouses on a range of issues.
He said he was also carrying a written message from Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz for Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, but said he had no knowledge about its contents.
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