TEHRAN Chairman of the Bosnian Presidency Alija Izetbegovic said in Sarajevo on Monday that Bosnian will never forget Iran's vital assistance at the time of war. The Bosnian people highly respect the Islamic Republic of Iran, said Izetbegovic in a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Sarajevo Homayoun Amir Khalili. Bosnia is located on the border between the East and the West, he said adding that therefore, stabilization of peace and security in the region is of great importance.

Voicing Iran's readiness for expansion of political and economic relations with Bosnia, Amir Khalili, quoted by IRNA, underlined the significance of cooperation between private sectors and economic institutions of the two sides. Pointing to the theory of dialogue among civilizations as proposed by President Mohammad Khatami, Amir Khalili said that Izetbegovic can also play an important role in this respect. The ambassador later discussed ways and means for promotion of all-out bilateral cooperation with the Muslim head of Bosnian Council of Ministers Haris Silajdzic. Expressing optimism over Sarajevo-Tehran future ties, Silajdzic said his country attaches great importance to economic cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran. He also hoped that Iran will help Bosnia with its privatization effort.

Amir Khalili in reply said Iran favors expansion of economic relations with Bosnia, adding that he will spare no effort in paving the way for realization of this objective.