Iran’s President Mohammad Khatami called on the international community Wednesday to protect the Palestinian people currently the target of an Israeli military offensive in the West Bank, Iran’s state radio reported.
"Human rights oblige all the world countries and governments to make efforts to prevent massacres, oppression and violence against the oppressed Palestinians," Khatami said during a meeting with Norway's Foreign Minister Jan Petersen, AFP reported.
On his part, Petersen said Norway "supports peace in the region" and the Middle East peace process.
In addition, Petersen said that his country wanted "to develop its relations with Iran."
Khatami referred to "multiple possibilities for cooperation between the two nations" and extended hope that Petersen's visit to Iran "opens a new chapter in the relations between Tehran and Oslo."
Petersen arrived in Tehran Tuesday for a two-day visit to Iran for talks on the Middle East conflict, Afghanistan and oil.
Israel invaded the West Bank 13 days ago in retaliation for a wave of attacks on Israel.
Petersen, whose country is a key non-OPEC oil producer, welcomed US Secretary of State Colin Powell's current tour of the Middle East and conveyed he would review the Israeli-Palestinian crisis with Iranian officials.
Petersen's trip will also take him to Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
The minister chairs an international committee for aid to the Palestinians, which groups donor states. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
