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Al-Ahram Weekly 11 - 17 March 1999 Issue No. 420 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 11 - 17 March 1999 Issue No. 420
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Focus Special Features Travel Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Unprecedented visit
MARKING the first visit to the West by an Iranian leader since the 1979 Islamic revolution, President Mohamed Khatami arrived in Italy Tuesday with an important agenda.Khatami was hoping to open a new chapter in his country's relations with the West during the visit, which both countries called of historical importance. Talks on trade and ending Iran's isolation, as well as a key meeting with Pope John Paul II were scheduled to take place during Khatami's visit.
Khatami's first stop was the presidential palace in Rome, where President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro offered a red-carpet welcome. Security was tight and nearby streets were closed off. A little more than a kilometre away, the Iranian opposition in exile staged a peaceful demonstration. However, the turnout by protesters was lower than what was announced by organisers.
Iran's current chairmanship of the 54-nation Organisation Islamic Conference (OIC) gives special weight to the scheduled Papal audience. The meeting "is of capital importance to Islamic-Christian dialogue," said the pope's ambassador to Iran, Archbishop Romeo Panciroli.
Iran is a trading partner and oil supplier to Italy, its third largest after Libya and Saudi Arabia. Last week, Italy's AGIP and France's Elf Aquitaine signed a $1 billion oil deal with Iran, flouting a long-standing threat of US sanctions.
Khatami plans to visit France in April and will perform the Islamic rituals of Haj or pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia and hold talks with Saudi officials later this month. The two visits will also be the first by an Iranian president since the 1979 revolution.
