MOSCOW -- New Belarussian Foreign Minister Sergei Martiniov on Friday said that President Mohammad Khatami's upcoming visit to Minsk will mark a turning point in all-out ties between Iran and Belarus.

In a meeting with Iran's Ambassador to Minsk Mohammad-Moussa Hashemi Golpayegani, Martiniov stressed the need for the expansion of Tehran-Minsk bilateral relations in all cultural, political, economic and trade spheres, IRNA reported.

He voiced readiness to push for improved bilateral ties adding that his country's authorities are looking forward to seeing President Khatami in Minsk.

Pleased with the growing mutual ties between the two countries, the minister underlined the strong political will of senior officials of both states to materialize the agreements reached between the two countries.

Hashemi Golpayegani pointed to the potentials of both countries to expand mutual cooperation in various fields.

He commented on the numerous common fields for cooperation and stressed the need for further trade exchanges and joint investment and measures to overcome the problems hindering the implementation of joint projects.

In addition to matters of mutual interest, the two sides reviewed the Iraqi crisis as well as other regional and international issues.

The Belarussian foreign minister condemned the unilateral action against Iraq saying that the United Nations has to play a key role in the developments in this respect.

He emphasized the necessity for the return of the UN arms inspectors to Baghdad to continue the inspection work and said the fate of Iraq has to be determined by the Iraqi people.

He thanked the Iranian authorities for their key support for Belarus' membership in the North-South corridor.

Hashemi Golpayegani called for the continuation of deliberations between the Iranian and Belarussian officials to provide the way for further expansion of ties, particularly in economic field.

Reportedly, Iran and Belarus are to draw up a draft on joint investment that would be signed shortly.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister in Asia, Oceania, and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Mohsen Aminzadeh arrived in Belarus' capital, Minsk, on February 12 for talks with the Belarussian officials on the presidential visit.

The official announced plans for arranging a Belarus culture week in Iran in June adding that Iran will soon have a trade and business center in Minsk.