ATHENS -- Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou is to embark on a tour of Arab and Middle East countries in an effort to promote relations between the Islamic world and Europe and to discuss the Iraqi crisis.

"We are seeking closer relations with the Arab world and Islamic countries. This relationship is very important," Papandreou said in a meeting with a group of Brussels-based correspondents who were visiting Athens.

Papandreou said he will soon announce when and which countries of the region he will visit. He said he met with his Iranian counterpart, Kamal Kharrazi, in Athens on Thursday and discussed the Iraqi crisis.

Greece formally began the rotating six-month EU presidency on Friday, IRNA reported.

The Greek foreign minister reiterated the EU position calling for a diplomatic solution to defuse the Iraqi crisis.

Papandreou said the EU presidency will be in close consultation with Turkey because it is a neighbor of Iraq and because it is a EU candidate country as well.

He said the Greek presidency will exert strong efforts to push forward the roadmap for peace in the Middle East. On the Cyprus issue, Papandreou said a positive climate has been created to resolve the problem, adding that "We should not lose the historic opportunity."

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has set 28 February as the final date for the Greek and Turkish Cypriots to accept a UN peace plan.