MADRID -- Iranian Ambassador to Havana Ahmad Edrisian in a
                                            meeting with Cuban Vice-President Carlos Lage in Havana
                                            expressed Tehran's willingness to expand ties with Havana.

                                            At the meeting, Edrisian informed Lage of the measures taken
                                            to boost mutual ties including exchange of high-ranking
                                            delegations between Tehran and Havana in near future.

                                            He added that the Tehran mayor and the head of the Iranian
                                            Parliamentary Friendship Group will travel to Havana soon.

                                            The two sides also stressed the importance of promoting
                                            economic ties in accordance with the high level of the two
                                            countries political relations.

                                            They also discussed their countries' views on international
                                            important issues, IRNA reported.

                                            The Cuban vice-president referring to his last year's visit to
                                            Tehran said Iran as an independent state plays an important
                                            role on the international scene especially under current critical
                                            situation.

                                            He also expressed his country's readiness to expand relations
                                            with the Islamic Republic of Iran in various domains.