Saudi Arabia to receive first Iranian presidential
visit
RIYADH, March 3 (AFP) - Saudi Arabia is set to receive its first Iranian
presidential visit later this month when Mohammad Khatami joins the annual
hajj pilgrimage, Saudi Defence Minister Sultan ibn Abdel Aziz said Wednesday.
The minister, quoted by the official SPA news agency, gave no precise
date for the president's arrival, although the pilgrimage to Mecca starts
at the end of March.
Prince Sultan said he would visit Iran "after the pilgrimage."
Moslems are obliged under Islam to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at
least once in their lives if they have the means and numerous national
leaders undertake the hajj.
Relations between Tehran and Riyadh have improved since the election
in May 1997 of reformist Khatami and an Islamic summit held in Tehran in
December of that year.
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi began a visit to Saudi Arabia
on Tuesday for talks on the oil price collapse.
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