Iranian, Armenian Top Diplomats Discuss Regional, Int’l Issues

04/13/04

TEHRAN (IRNA) — Iran and Armenia here Tuesday discussed expansion of
bilateral cooperation as well as regional and international issues,
including Karabakh.

Visiting Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, in a meeting with
his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharrazi, called for expansion of
relations with Iran.

Oskanian pointed to the increasing trend of political, economic,
cultural and scientific cooperation between the two countries, and
voiced his country’s determination to boost mutual ties through
increased regular consultations.

He further highlighted the positive outcomes of the two countries’
joint gas projects, saying they are in line with the two countries’
interest and hoped such projects would be implemented seriously.

He termed developments in Karabakh and his country’s upcoming
negotiation with Azeri officials as “important,” and stressed the need
to maintain regional consultations, particularly with Iran, to
establish stability in the region.

Kharrazi, for his part, outlined the two countries’ potentials for
cooperation and said providing facilities to increase trade exchanges
would double the motivation of tradesmen, industrialists and state and
private companies for promotion of bilateral cooperation. Kharrazi,
referring to the Armenia-Azerbaijan talks, termed the talks “positive”
and proposed continuation of these talks at the ministerial level as
well as with other senior officials, adding that “the Islamic Republic
of Iran supports the strategy of dialogue to settle the Karabakh
issue.”

“Iran’s cooperation with Armenia is in line with efforts to achieve
regional stability and is not against any country,” Kharrazi said.

The Iranian minister referred to the project to transfer gas via
Armenia and Ukraine to Europe as “important” and in line with efforts
to promote regional cooperation, adding that current talks regarding
the project have been fruitful and constructive in establishing
greater participation and collaboration in the region. SNSC secretary:
Tehran Keen on Developing Relations with Neighbors

Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Hassan Rowhani
said on Tuesday that Iran is keen on developing economic and political
relations with neighboring states.

In a meeting with Armenian foreign minister, Rowhani said that
longstanding cultural affinity between Iran and Armenia contributed to
common interests in the field of economy and boosting Tehran-Yerevan
cooperation.

He appreciated the current cooperation between Iranian and Armenian
energy ministries over the project of dam building and setting up
power plant over Aras River as symbol of economic cooperation.

He hoped that the agreement on setting up pipeline to carry Iranian
gas to Armenia will be signed soon.

Rowhani said that Armenian government is expected to help resolve
problems of Iranian nationals and organizations based in Armenia.

Referring to the developments in Caucasus and Karabakh, Rowhani said
that as much as the regional states succeeded to resolve the crisis,
their interests would be guaranteed and regional stability would be
reinforced.

Rowhani pointed to crises in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and Caucasus
as the four dangerous places which should be dealt with politically to
help bring about economic development and social welfare for the
people living in those areas.