Tehran, Aug 3, IRNA � Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a meeting with his Serbian counterpart Ivica Da?i? criticized the western countries' instrumental use of human rights issues.

'The old and worn out methods of the western countries in instrumental use of human rights to pressure the independent countries is unacceptable,' Zarif said during the meeting on Monday.

Zarif and Da?i? also discussed ways of boosting bilateral relations, especially in business and economic fields.

During the meeting Zarif welcomed a proposal by Da?i? for the holding of the 14th Iran-Serbia Joint Economic Committee.

Zarif welcomed the proposal, saying, �In this regard, an economic delegation from Iran�s different government and private sectors will head for Belgrade in the future.�

Referring to the countries� long-standing and favorable relations, Zarif expressed hope for the development of bilateral cooperation in political, economic, energy, agricultural, parliamentary, cultural, scientific, and academic areas.

The Serbian minister, for his part, voiced Belgrade�s readiness to open a new chapter in the ties with the Islamic Republic in the political, economic, and parliamentary fields.

The Serbian official also felicitated Iran on the conclusion of nuclear talks between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries -- the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany -- in the Austrian capital Vienna last month.

By IRNA