TEHRAN (IRNA) – President Mahmud Ahmadinejad met and held talks with various officials from Islamic states on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of the Third International Conference on Qods and Support for the Rights of Palestinian People here on Sunday.

At a meeting with the Syrian Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Abrash, Ahmadinejad said that Iran will use its power and progress to serve its friends and neighboring countries.

Stressing the need to strengthen the unity and convergence of world Muslims, he said Iran had been supporting Syria over the past three decades.

Al-Abrash, for his part, congratulated the Iranian government and nation for joining the world's nuclear club.

Pointing to the U.S.' application of double standards on the issue of countries seeking to access peaceful nuclear technology, the speaker pointed out that while Israel maintains a burgeoning nuclear arsenal it continues to defy all international treaties banning proliferation and refuses to sign the NPT.

In another meeting with Madagascar's Parliament Speaker Rakotomaharo Rajemison, Ahmadinejad said the progress attained by the Iranian nation was the result of its policies of independence and self-reliance.

Rajemison, for his part, congratulated the Iranian government and nation for its success in perfecting the technology to enrich uranium.

He said that third world countries laud Iran's progress and access to modern technology because these will be used to serve humanity.

The president reiterated the need for unity among Islamic governments and nations and said their united support for the oppressed Palestinian people would facilitate finding a solution to the Palestinian problem.

The president's remarks were made at a meeting with Advisory Council (Shura) Speaker Mohammad bin Mubarak al-Kholeifi. Pointing to the trend of increasing bilateral ties between Iran and Qatar, he added: "Iran welcomes further promotion of relations with its brother country Qatar in all fields."

Al Kholeifi, for his part, said his country values the efforts of President Ahmadinejad to expand relations with neighboring states.

In another meeting with Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly Chairman Hidayat Nur Wahid, Ahmadinejad said the battle against imperialistic and hegemonic policies is the most important issue of Muslims and all independent-minded nations, and added that colonial powers use human rights and democracy as a pretext to impose pressure on independent countries.

"The double-standard and discriminatory policies of certain big powers towards independent states and regimes under their control show their arrogance and reveal their intentions to vigilant and free peoples," he added. Ahmadinejad noted that "Iran and Indonesia, as two big Islamic States, can play a fundamental role in promoting the Islamic world."

The Indonesian parliamentary speaker, for his part, congratulated the Iranian government and nation for having joined the world's nuclear club with their success in completing the nuclear fuel cycle.

He called on Muslims to reinforce their unity and lay the groundwork for closer cooperation.