Lebanese FM departs for Tehran

Beirut, March 26, IRNA – Lebanon's Foreign Minister Ali al-Shami departed for Tehran on Friday to represent Lebanon President Michel Suleiman at Nowruz festivity in Tehran.

Al-Shami, expressing pleasure with his visit to Iran, in a short interview with IRNA, called for expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tehran and Beirut.

Iran's Commerce Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari, in a visit to Lebanon, submitted President Ahmadinejad's invitation letter to Lebanon president to attend Nowruz festivity in Tehran.

So far, presence of heads of states of Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia and Iraq has been confirmed. From Kyrgyzstan, deputy prime minister, crown prince of Qatar, Omani foreign minister and a senior official from Azerbaijan Republic will attend the Nowruz world festivity in Tehran.

According to the schedule, heads of states will meet with Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution, attend a gathering and deliver speeches concerning Nowruz, meet with Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, approve communiqué of the gathering and open the secretariat of the Nowruz commemoration in Tehran./end