CASTRO FAVOURS BROADER SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION WITH IRAN Tehran Itar-Tass via COMTEX Northern Light May 10, 2001 Tehran and Havana have broad opportunities to exchange scientific experience to the economic advantage of both countries, Cuban Premier Fidel Castro has stated in the Iranian capital. This is his first visit to Iran. The Cuban leader came there on Monday night for a three-day official visit at the head of a large delegation of officials and businessmen. The purpose of the visit is to promote the relations between the two countries. It is also linked with the future of "Group 77", which is now headed by Iran. The Cuban leader stressed on Tuesday, during his meeting with managers of the Joint Iranian-Cuban Biotechnology Enterprise, which produces pharmaceuticals, that exchanges of scientific information between Iran and Cuba and their economic advantages were among the priorities of Cuban-Iranian cooperation. Castro had talks with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mehdi Karroubi. He is also expected to meet Iranian Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and ex-President Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani. By Igor Shashkov