ISLAMABAD, Dec 21: Iranian President Seyed Mohammad Khatami who is due to arrive here on Monday on his first-ever visit to Pakistan will be coming with a 110-member strong entourage which will include key cabinet members and other senior officials.

Foreign Minister Dr Kamal Kharrazi, Defence Minister Sham Khani, Minister for Road and Transportation Mr Khorram and head of the Iranian president’s office will all be a part of the delegation that will accompany President Khatami, Press Counsellor of the Iranian Embassy, H. Tehrani, told Dawn on Saturday.

The 110-member presidential entourage will include 27 representatives of the print and electronic media, Tehrani said. Among other members travelling with President Khatami on the special flight will be his support staff and security personnel.

The Iranian president will be the first head of state to visit Pakistan after the installation of the government of Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali.

Welcoming the Iranian president’s forthcoming visit, Pakistan said on Saturday that it would offer a landmark opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations.

“The visit of President Khatami will provide a landmark opportunity to the two sides to further strengthen bilateral relations and give them a meaningful, substantive and strategic dimension,” the foreign office spokesman said in a statement issued here on Saturday.

“The visit of President Khatami reaffirms the warm reciprocal sentiments of brotherhood and friendship existing between the two countries,” he added.

Underlining the importance of the Iranian president’s visit, the spokesman said the fact that it was taking place against the backdrop of an evolving situation in the region it assumed great significance.

Foreign Minister Mian Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri and other senior officials will receive President Khatami at the airport. Later, President Pervez Musharraf will receive him at the Aiwan-i-Sadr where he will be given the ceremonial state welcome and presented a tri-service guard of honour.