ZAHEDAN, Sistan-Baluchestan Prov. -- Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei here on Monday evening spoke with concern about the problems facing this southeastern province and stressed the need to deal with them.

Ayatollah Khamenei's remarks were made at a meeting with senior executive officials of the province and a group of cultural and sports figures, IRNA reported.

Expressing his pleasure at being in this underdeveloped province, the Leader said that the deprivation of the region was so great that efforts to deal with its problems over the past two decades have produced very little result.

Prior to the Leader's remarks, the provincial governor, Hossein Amini, briefed Ayatollah Khamenei on the economic, political, social and cultural status of the province, saying he had witnessed progress made in these areas since after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Drought and security are the main concerns of provincial officials, he said, and expressed confidence the province will witness further development through allocation of more government funds.

Meanwhile, a joint military ceremony of the armed forces was held in the presence of the Leader Monday evening.

Praising the solidarity of the country's armed forces, the Leader stressed that the armed forces of this province, which is highly crucial to the country's security and order, shoulder a heavy responsibility in safeguarding the country's borders and security.

The leader arrived in Zahedan Sunday on a provincial visit to meet local residents and to get firsthand information on the state of affairs in the province, which shares borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan.