TEHRAN -- Visiting Iranian President Mohammad Khatami in Athens Thursday described looking at the world through black eyeglasses and using narrow minded viewpoints as the most dreadful threat for piety.

President Khatami, in an address at Athens' Pantheon University before receiving that university's gold plate of honor, said that true real belief in God make one thirsty to learn, grants one a receptive ear to hear the truth, and an active mind to ponder for reality.

"Today, everybody in the global community has to strive for gaining the ability to enter into the scene of having meaningful dialogues with others," said President Khatami.

"It is only through holding dialogue that knowledge is expanded, peace and security is reinforced, and love, affection and friendship, that are the most beautiful flowers of existence, blossom in the human societies."

President Khatami said it has been through such dialogues that Muslim and Christian sciences have given to and taken from each other, and thus moved towards their perfection in the course of history, IRNA reported.

At times, he stressed, old thoughts are refreshed and presented anew when they were face challenges by new ideas and thus they enter the course of blessed dialogues aimed at establishment of new blends of thought.

"However, any attempt to single out a particular race, ethnicity or nationality as the origin of knowledge is futile and aimed to serve the immoral ideology of racial superiority.

President Khatami said what must be learnt from the historical and cultural bonds between the world nations is being kind with each other.

Also, President Khatami conferred on Wednesday night with Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Simitis to discuss mutual ties as well as global and regional developments.

Referring to the glorious, historical background of Iran-Greece ties as the impetus of mutual relations, President Khatami said "Tehran-Athens ties have been founded upon understanding and mutual respect."

For his part, Konstantinos Simitus underlined the role of dialogue in achieving peaceful solutions and said that mutual understanding is key to solving global issues.

Also, President Khatami said Tuesday that all nations should be respected and contribute to world affairs.

Meeting the Greek Parliamentary Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis on the second day of his official visit to Greece, he lamented that some countries are still under the rule of reactionary, and totalitarian regimes.

"Unfortunately democracy is also ignored in the international arena," Khatami said.

Meanwhile, President Khatami, in a ceremony held in Athens on Thursday by the mayor of Athens, was handed the golden key of the city in appreciation of the Iranian president's efforts for promoting cooperation among world nations.

"Athens... is presenting you its most prestigious golden sign as a token of friendship with a nation whom you are presiding over and in appreciation of your efforts for promoting cooperation among nations," Mayor of Athens Dimitris Avramopoulos addressed Khatami as saying.

President Khatami Wednesday night called upon peace-loving world countries to convince power-seekers and warmongers to give in to reason and justice.

After holding talks with Greek prime minister Khatami told reporters that lack of reason would lead the world to violence and war.

Meanwhile, President Khatami in an interview with the Austrian Television Broadcast Company (ORF) Wednesday, evening termed Iran-Austria's ties as satisfactory and positive.

Responding to ORF reporter's question on whether the dialogue among civilization should continue after the September 11 terroristic attack on the U.S., he said, "After the recent events, I find such dialogue of much greater significance and believe that through dialogue, understanding might be created between nations and culture might be developed."

Khatami added that dialogue among civilizations is a trend to prevent the outbreak of violence and war in the world.

Also, the Islamic Republic, in its efforts to build a world with a diversity of viewpoints, welcomes broadening ties with the European Union and is interested in developing relations in all areas, announced the visiting Iranian president on Wednesday evening.

Speaking at a banquet held in his honor by the Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos, he described Greece's standing in the European union as significant, and said Tehran and Athens could cooperate in reinforcing peace and stability at the regional and global levels.

Khatami pointed to developments in the Middle East, and said the massacre of Palestinians and extension of Zionists' atrocities to other parts of the occupied territories would trigger international conflicts.

He stressed that Greece and the European Union can take effective steps to help the Palestinians regain their legitimate rights, and stressed EU's contribution to solving the regional and international conflicts.

President Stephanopoulos voiced Greece's support for President Khatami's civilizational dialogue, and said such dialogue could be a response to the need of today's world for understanding and mutual cooperation.

He further echoed Greek support for an independent Palestinian state, and stressed the Palestinians' right to enjoy a peaceful, honorable and equal life.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Greek president voiced concern over the anticipated U.S. attacks on Iraq, and said any military action against Baghdad would have negative consequences for the political and economic stability of the Middle East.

Meanwhile, President Khatami visited the historical Acropolis Complex in the Greek capital city of Athens, on the second day of his visit to Greece on Thursday.

The historical Acropolis Complex is considered as the Greek national symbol.

It comprises of several temples and a museum constructed on the top of a hill in central Athens.

Also, President Khatami on Friday wound up his three-day visit to Greece and left Athens for Tehran.

President Khatami was seen off at Athens airport by his Greek counterpart Konstantinos Stefanopoulos to finish his five-day European tour which already took him to Austria.

President Khatami arrived in Athens on Wednesday from Vienna and met with several Greek officials.

Also, Iranian president Thursday was awarded the gold medal of Athens Panteion University in appreciation for his civilizational dialogue proposal.

Director of Panteion University Panayiotis Getimis lauded Khatami's idea of'dialogue among civilizations which was announced as an international theme in 2001 by the United Nations.