Iranian Foreign Ministry sends communique to Arab League

Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi sent a written communique to the secretary-general of the Arab League in which he talked about Iran's desire to cooperate with the Arab league and said Iran supports Islamic and Arab issues.

Kharazi also said in his message that Israel creates obstacles in order not to have to establish a comprehensive and just peace. Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdel Meguid commented positively on the content of the Iranian message, which also included the importance of settling some of the problems that obstruct Iranian - Arab relations.

Arab foreign ministers, in their 109th Arab League session, called upon Tehran to cooperate in resolving its disputes with the United Arab Emirates regarding the islands of Greater and Lesser Tanb and Abu Mousa.

In 1995, the governments of Iran and the UAE started talks in Qatar to settle the disputes but did not come to any conclusion. Iran seeks to limit talks to arrangements on managing Abu Mousa's affairs, a process that used to be carried out jointly by the two countries according to an agreement dating back to 1971.

The president of Iran is due to visit the UAE soon.

Iranian - Arab states relations have been improving steadily with the election of a new Iranian president Mohamed Khatemi, and Arab analysts see the resolution of the outstanding problems as a great apportunity for the building of a strong relationship that is economic, strategic and cultural.