Publish Date: 10 June 2003 - 18:31

TEHRAN, June 10 (Mehr News Agency) -- Foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates says that Iranian President Seyed Mohammad Khatami has been invited to visit his country in the near future, the Dubai-based daily Al-Hayat reported.

"President Khatami will definitely make a trip to our country," Abdullah Rashed al-Naimi said during his visit to London.

 

He expressed hope that the two sides would solve the bilateral problems through constructive dialogue between their officials.

 

The emirate claims Iran's Persian Gulf islands of Greater and Lesster Tonbs and Abu Mussa.

 

"We have not reached an agreement with Iran on the three islands, and there are still some problems hindering expansion of Iran-UAE ties," he said.

 

Tehran favors settlement of the issue through mutual negotiations and without involvement of a third party.