Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri arrived Saturday in Tehran where he held talks with top officials on enhancing bilateral cooperation. The discussions also tackled regional issues, especially the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, reported the Iranian News Agency (IRNA).
Avenues to bolster trade ties between the two countries and further activation of the Iran-Lebanon joint economic commission were among other topics that were discussed by the two sides, said the agency.
During his meeting with Khamenei, the supreme leader hailed the Lebanese resistance against the "Israeli regime," said the agency.
Khamenei, said the agency, warned against the serious threat posed by the "Israeli Zionists to the entire region," adding that "the victory of the Lebanese over the Zionists in south Lebanon has positively influenced the Palestinian Intifada."
The Leader, meanwhile, voiced Iran's readiness to help the Lebanese
reconstruct their country, added IRNA.
Hariri also held talks with Iran's First Vice President Hassan Habibi, said the agency.
Habibi called for expansion of bilateral relations between the two countries.
The agency said that the two officials called for further expansion of mutual ties and expressed hope that the current talks would be fruitful.
Hariri described the existing relation between Iran and Lebanon as "growing", and said that the new Lebanese government is looking forward to the expansion of a broad-based relation with the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to the agency.
Iran exports 34 million dollars worth of products to Lebanon and imports goods worth one million dollars worth from that country per year, according to IRNA.
The agency, meanwhile, quoted the Lebanese daily al-Mustaqbal as saying Saturday that Hariri is expected to discuss the possibility of laying pipelines to transport Iranian oil through Iraq and Syria to Lebanon, with some of the imported crude being re- exported to Europe and other countries.
Hariri, according to the daily, is also expected to discuss the possibility of providing
warehouse facilities for Iranian products in Lebanon, particularly carpets, before re-exporting them to other countries, said the agency.
The prime minister is due on Sunday to hold talks with President Mohammed Kahtami, added the agency -- Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
