LOC17:51
14:51 GMT
AMIR OF QATAR VISITS IRAN
TEHRAN, OCT 23 (KUNA) -- QATAR'S AMIR SHEIKH HAMAD BIN KHALIFA AL THANI,
VISITING HERE TUESDAY, SAID HIS TALKS WITH IRANIAN PRESIDENT MUHAMMAD KHATEMI
DEALT WITH ISSUES RELATED TO THE ISLAMIC WORLD.
SPEAKING BRIEFLY TO REPORTERS AT MEHRABAD AIRPORT UPON HIS ARRIVAL, THE
AMIR DISCOUNTED THAT THE PURPOSE OF HIS UNANNOUNCED VISIT WAS TO CONVENE AN
ISLAMIC SUMMIT CONFERENCE (HE IS CURRENTLY PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANIZATION OF
ISLAMIC CONFERENCE), NOR TO DELIVER A MESSAGE FROM THE U.S. TO IRAN, NOR TO
CONSULT IRAN ABOUT ASKING THE SECURITY COUNCIL TO CONVENE TO DISCUSS THE
PALESTINIAN PROBLEM.
HAVING TALKED TO KHATEMI FOR TWO HOURS AND TO OTHER IRANIAN OFFICIALS AS
WELL, THE AMIR SAID " WE DID NOT CENTER ON ANYTHING SPECIFIC; RATHER WE
EXCHANGED VIEWS ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES OF GENERAL CONCERN."
ASKED BY REPORTERS IF HE DISCUSSED WITH IRANIAN OFFICIALS THE MAKE-UP OF A
POST-TALIBAN GOVERNMENT IN AFGHANISTAN, HE SAID " THE SUBJECT DOES NOT
CONCERN QATAR WHICH THINKS IT IS BEST LEFT TO PEOPLE OF AFGHANISTAN TO DECIDE
WHAT FORM OF GOVERNMENT THEY PREFER." (END)
NASH.AJS
KUNA 231751 Oct 01NNNN