06 March 2004	Saturday	14 Muharram 1425

ISLAMABAD, March 5: Iran's First Vice-President Dr Mohammad Reza Aref, during a meeting with President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Friday, emphasized that no third country could exercise any negative influence on Tehran's relationship with Islamabad.

He assured President Musharraf that Iran attached the highest priority to its relations with Pakistan and it would like to extend the bilateral relationship into the regional and international spheres, a press release said.

He said the two countries' positions on many important issues, including the Middle East and Kashmir, were similar and supportive. Iran would like to move beyond preferential trade to free trade between the two countries, Dr Aref said.

He briefed President Musharraf on the Joint Economic Commission meeting between the two counties which finalized a number of agreements. He said both the countries should work together to assist in Afghanistan's reconstruction and stability.

He conveyed Iranian President Sayed Mohammed Khatami's invitation for Gen Musharraf to visit Iran. President Musharraf said the countries should increase their counter-terrorism cooperation against Al Qaeda.

He expressed his satisfaction on the fruitful Joint Economic Commission meeting and said trade between the two countries should reflect the depth of their political relationship.

He said Pakistan looked forward to concluding arrangements which would facilitate its trade with Turkey, the Central Asian republics and Europe through Iran. The gas pipeline project between the two countries constituted a very important objective, he said.

The president agreed that both the countries should work cooperatively in Afghanistan to assist in its reconstruction and increase trade linkages with it and the Central Asian republics.