TEHRAN -- Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Anders B. Johnsson arrived here yesterday on a three-day visit to the country to expand bilateral ties between Iran and the IPU.

On hand to welcome him at Mehrabad International Airport was Head of Iran's branch of IPU Qolam Heidar bai-Salami.

Upon arrival here, he told IRNA that the visit is aimed at further familiarity with Iran's parliamentary system, and promotion of relations between IPU and international forums, particularly the United Nations (UN) and World Trade Organization (WTO).

"Strengthening parliamentary ties among all countries including Iran is among another issue to be brought up," he said.

Johnsson is expected to meet with Majlis (Parliament) Speaker Mahdi Karrubi, and Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi.

He is also scheduled to visit permanent secretariat of parliaments of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Tehran. The IPU is mainly involved in inter-parliamentary debates on worldwide crises such as aids and also making efforts to consolidate democratic parliamentalism in the world.

The union supports the efforts of the United Nations, whose objectives it shares, and works in close cooperation with it. It also cooperates with regional inter-parliamentary organizations as well as with international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, which are motivated by the same ideals.

Over a hundred national parliaments are currently members of the IPU. Five regional parliamentary assemblies are associate members.