Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said in Cairo Sunday that more steps need to be taken to improve ties between Egypt and Iran. 

"There are still some steps to be taken by the two countries to exchange ambassadors," Maher told reporters after talks with visiting Iranian envoy Mohamed Hassan Adli.

"Relations between Egypt and Iran are coming along no matter how slowly or rapidly, and things are moving in the right direction," Maher said.

As for Iranian President Mohammad Khatami's invitation for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to attend an Islamic conference in the Iranian capital of Tehran on Feb. 17-18, Maher said that the envoy asserted that Khatami was looking forward to Mubarak's attendance.

"The Iranian envoy also asserted that Khatami was fully aware of a key role played by Mubarak in the region," Maher said.

Adli, who arrived here earlier in the day for a visit to Egypt, presented an official invitation during his talks with Maher.

In January, Egypt and Iran expressed willingness to restore full diplomatic relations, which were severed in 1980, a year after Cairo inked a peace deal with Israel and gave asylum to Iran's exiled Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

On the sidelines of a UN meeting in Geneva last December, Mubarak had a meeting with Khatami, the first ever between heads of the two states in 24 years. 

Strong Iran-Egypt ties to benefit Mideast region: Iranian envoy

The establishment of strong ties between Iran and Egypt will benefit the Middle East region, visiting Iranian envoy Mohamed Hassan Adli said in Cairo Sunday.

"Strong ties between the two countries will surely benefit the entire region, especially as there is a political will driving reciprocal steps," Adli told reporters after his talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher.

"Cairo and Tehran can build now on the positive results of a recently held summit between Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak," said the envoy, who arrived here earlier in the day for a visit to Egypt.

Adli said that he discussed with Maher means of enhancing bilateral ties, while hailing the latest steps taken by the two countries to heal their rift.

Adli also presented an official invitation for Mubarak to attend an Islamic conference in the Iranian capital of Tehran on Feb. 17-18.

"President Khatami hoped that Mubarak would join the summit," Adli said.

Iran to formally invite Egyptian president to economic summit: spokesman

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi said in Tehran Sunday that a formal invitation letter would be sent to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to attend summit of eight developing Islamic countries (D-8) in Tehran.

"The invitation to Mr. Mubarak will be sent either today or tomorrow," Asefi said at a weekly press briefing.

The summit is due to be held in Tehran on February 19 and 20. The group includes Turkey, Malaysia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Iran, Bangladesh, Egypt and Nigeria.

Asefi noted that "the visit by Mubarak to Iran has already been ruled out, but the level at which Cairo will participate in an economic summit in Tehran later this month still remains to be seen."

Tehran and Cairo first broke the ice in June 2000 after Iranian President Mohammad Khatami spoke on phone with his Egyptian counterpart Mubarak in the first such conversation by the presidents of the two countries.

Khatami and Mubarak met in Geneva in December 2003 on the sidelines of a UN technology summit. Recently the two countries have proceeded the "reconstruction" of their diplomatic ties.

In early January, Tehran City Council decided to change the name of the street of Khaled Islambouli to Intifada (uprising). Khaled Islambouli is the killer of former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat. Tehran and Cairo severed their ties after former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat signed the Camp David peace accord with Israel and gave asylum to Iran's exiled Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

"Ties with Egypt are on the right track and we are moving ahead step by step. The question that when the ties are resumed needs time," Asefi said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi also said last week that "relations between Iran and Egypt are in the restoration phase and need time."

"There should be a natural and definite course for relations to be resumed in the near future. What is important is that both sides have decided on this and are working on it," Kharazi said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2004)