TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan recognized Kosovo’s independence on Tuesday, a month after the majority Albanian region declared secession from Serbia with the backing of the United States and most European Union states.

Iran is seriously concerned about human rights violations in Europe especially those Muslim prisoners in certain European countries, Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki said here on Monday in a meeting with his Swiss counterpart Micheline Calmy-Rey.

Cultural and religious affinities have linked Iran and Pakistan as to neighbors. Politically, the two countries also share common views toward many regional and international issues and the two sides have been pushing for settling regional conflicts through dialogue.