Iran's Khatami to meet Swiss ministers on quake, Iraq, nuclear programme

BERN (AFP) Jan 16, 2004
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami is due next week to hold talks with Swiss ministers on the international response to the devastating earthquake in Bam, southern Iran, the Swiss foreign ministry said on Friday.

Khatami is due on January 20 to meet Swiss President Joseph Deiss, Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey, Interior Minister Pascal Couchepin and Transport and Energy Minister Moritz Leuenberger, as part of an official visit to Switzerland during which he will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos.

He will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazai.

Switzerland was one of the first countries to send aid to victims of the December 26 earthquake in Bam, which is estimated to have killed at least 41,000 people.

Next week's talks will also cover the situation in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East, human rights in Iran, Tehran's controversial nuclear programme and the creation of a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East, the Swiss foreign ministry said.

Iran is an important market for Switzerland. Swiss exports to the Islamic republic rose to more than 480 million Swiss francs (306 million euros, 379 million dollars) in 2002. The two countries have signed agreements on investment protection and double taxation

TERRA.WIRE