He is in Turkey attending the Alliance of Civilizations initiative conference.

Khatami watched a whirling dervishes performance. He then talked to tourists he encountered.

Asked to comment on the situation in Iraq, Khatami said that Iraq had to maintain its territorial unity and it had to allow all ethnic groups to participate in the formation of a unity government.

The Iranian ambassador to Ankara invited Khatami to a dinner on Tuesday night.

Turkish State Minister Mehmet Aydin and Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler were also invited to dine with the ambassador and former President Khatami.