Group Of 15 Organization

Foreign ministers from the Group of 15, an affiliation of developing countries, met here Saturday to pick through the lessons of the Asian financial crisis and try to rally their combined forces in world trade talks. The ministers were meeting ahead of a three-day summit opening on Monday, which Indonesia's President Suharto will attend in spite of riots and economic turmoil at home.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has telephoned Iranian President Mohammad Khatami in what presidential sources said was the first such top-level contact in 21 years of strained relations between the two nations. State television said Mubarak called to congratulate Khatami after the Group of 15, an affiliation of developing countries, accepted Iran's application for membership. Iranian newspapers also reported the conversation.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has telephoned Iranian President Mohammad Khatami in what presidential sources said was the first such top-level contact in 21 years of strained relations between the two nations. State television said Mubarak called to congratulate Khatami after the Group of 15, an affiliation of developing countries, accepted Iran's application for membership. Iranian newspapers also reported the conversation.

Foreign ministers from the Group of 15, an affiliation of developing countries, met here Saturday to pick through the lessons of the Asian financial crisis and try to rally their combined forces in world trade talks. The ministers were meeting ahead of a three-day summit opening on Monday, which Indonesia's President Suharto will attend in spite of riots and economic turmoil at home.