TEHRAN President Mohammad Khatami is to pay an 8-day official visit to three Middle East countries to begin May 13 to discuss expansion of bilateral ties and regional cooperation, a statement issued by the Presidential Office here Monday announced. His visit, to take place at the Head of a high-ranking delegation, is in response to the formal invitation of the Syrian President Hafiz al-Assad, Saudi King Fahd and Prince Abdullah and Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Jaber al-Thani, the statement added.

President Khatami's visit to Syria, Saudi Arabia and Qatar is aimed at expansion of regional cooperation and strengthening relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and these countries, it said. The latest regional and international developments, issues concerning the world of Islam and expansion of bilateral relations will be top on the agenda of talks to be held between the Iranian president and heads of the three countries.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamal Kharrazi and Minister of Oil Bijan Namdar Zanganeh as well as the Iranian co-chairmen of joint commissions will accompany the president in the visit, the statement concluded. (IRNA)