TEHRAN -- Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said here that, "Iran attaches remarkable importance to stability, security, peace and development in the neighboring war-shattered Afghanistan." Speaking upon arrival at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport, Khatami added, "Due to historical commonalties and joint border, the Islamic Republic concerns about lack of security and stability in Afghanistan."

"Today, Afghanistan suffers from wide-scale poverty and destruction resulted from two decades of war and conflicts," he noted, expressing Iranian companies' readiness to participate in the reconstruction process in the country.

During the visit, the Islamic Republic and the Islamic transitional government of Afghanistan issued a joint press statement on Tuesday.

"Iranian President Mohammad Khatami heading a high-ranking delegation staged a landmark visit to Kabul on August 13, 2002, at the invitation of the Afghan transitional government Head Hamid Karzai," said the statement. "During their two rounds of negotiations, the both sides explored avenues for broadening and boosting mutual cooperation in the reconstruction process, anti-terrorism war and anti-drugs campaign as well as regional and international issues."