TEHRAN The Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi on Monday criticized the double-standard policy of global powers toward the crisis in the Middle East. Unfortunately, there is discrimination, disobedience of law and injustice against Palestinian nation, he said.

The foreign minister made the remark in a meeting here with his Vatican counterpart Jean Louis Tauran.

Kharrazi further said as long as Palestinians are denied their basic rights, there will be no peace in the region.

He regretted the silence of the West toward injustices being done against the innocent people of Palestine by the Zionist regime.

He said dialogue among civilizations is a novel idea in the new century, adding that the world should hold dialogue for the sake of peace, calm and friendship and in this line dialogue among religions will be of high significance.

For his part, Tauran said that the coincidence of his Tehran visit with the Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations indicated the close views shared by Iran and Vatican which provides for expansion of cooperation between Iran and Vatican.

Tauran said President Mohammad Khatami's visit to Vatican served to develop bilateral ties. Pope John Paul II was impressed by the new language spoken by the Iranian president during the meeting, he added.