mex compile error: Unrecognized switch: -cxx

when compiling a mex file a get the error mentioned above. I use MATLAB2013 with the mex-compiler: Microsoft SDK 7.1 . I hope the following information which was printed by the compiler may be useful:

    >> vl_compilenn('verbose', 1)
vl_compilenn: * Compiler and linker configurations *
vl_compilenn:   intermediate build products directory: C:\Dima\Projects_C\Libraries\matconvnet\matlab\mex\.build
vl_compilenn:   MEX files: C:\Dima\Projects_C\Libraries\matconvnet\matlab\mex/
vl_compilenn:   MEX compiler options: -DNDEBUG -D__SSSE3__ -cxx
vl_compilenn:   MEX linker options: -lmwblas -lgdiplus
vl_compilenn: * Reading images *
vl_compilenn:   vl_imreadjpeg enabled
vl_compilenn:   image library: gdiplus
vl_compilenn:   image library compile flags: 
vl_compilenn:   image library link flags: -lgdiplus
vl_compilenn: MEX: -outdir C:\Dima\Projects_C\Libraries\matconvnet\matlab\mex\.build matlab\src\vl_imreadjpeg.cpp -c -DNDEBUG -D__SSSE3__ -cxx
    Usage: 
        MEX [option1 ... optionN] sourcefile1 [... sourcefileN] 
            [objectfile1 ... objectfileN] [libraryfile1 ... libraryfileN] 

    Use the -help option for more information, or consult the MATLAB API Guide. 

C:\PROGRA~1\MATLAB\R2013A\BIN\MEX.PL: Error: Unrecognized switch: -cxx.