TEHRAN The visiting Croatian President Stipe Mesic here on Wednesday met with the Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

During the meeting, in which President Mohammad Khatami was also present, Ayatollah Khamenei said the two countries' real intention for promotion of relations will ensure their people's interests.

Referring to Mesic's statement that Croatians were of Iranian origin, the Leader said, "Such a pleasant and positive feeling among the Croats, will further expand the two countries' political, economic and cultural relations."

Ayatollah Khamenei also referred to the recent regretful events taking place in the Balkans region, saying, "The region's stability will be ensured only through honoring the existing nationalities and religions as well as not violating the borders."

Considering the public support as the only way to eliminate the current problems in the Balkans, he stressed that the big powers' interference, particularly that of the U.S., would not be to the interest of the region.

He also expressed satisfaction with the present Croatian government's due attention to the Muslim population, adding, "The Muslims are other owners of the region whose legal rights should be respected, too."

Mesic, for his part, expressed great pleasure over his visit to Iran, saying, "Iran is our house, for the Croatians believe they have an Iranian nationality."

Referring to his talks with the Iranian officials as very friendly and useful, the Croatian president stated his country can play an important role as a gate for the expansion of Iran-Europe trade relations.

Also, Mesic in a meeting with Majlis Speaker Mahdi Karrubi called for upgrading Tehran-Zagreb ties by relying on many capacities that exist in the political, economic, cultural and legislative fields.

President Mesic stressed the need to maintain Iran-Croatia cooperation and exchange of visits by officials given the steady development of relations between the two countries.

He praised President Khatami's proposition of dialogue among civilizations and voiced support for it.

"Through such dialogue, many challenges of today's world can be removed and cooperation between nations in the light of such dialogue to solve global problems will surely be fruitful," said the Croatian president.

Describing his talks with Iranian officials as 'constructive' Mesic said the talks were important in improving Tehran-Zagreb ties in different fields.

Karrubi, for his part, expressed satisfaction with the growth in ties between Tehran and Zagreb and stressed that the two countries had to diversify their ties in different fields.

He echoed the readiness of the Majlis to pave the way for development of relations between the two countries in the political, economic, cultural and legislative fields.

Karrubi reiterated that the expansion of Iran's ties with other states had resulted from President Khatami's policy of detente and said the Majlis strongly backed such foreign policy.

The Majlis speaker called on Iran and Croatian to further boost cooperation at international and interparliamentarian meetings and hoped that the Balkans crisis would be solved soon.