IRAN FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES EXPANSION OF TIES WITH ARMENIAN OFFICIAL

IRNA news agency
22 Jun 04

Tehran, 22 June: Head of Armenian presidential office (apparatus)
Artash (Artashes) Tumanyan and his entourage conferred here Tuesday
(22 June) with Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi on issues of mutual
interest.

According to the Information and Press Bureau of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Armenian minister of energy along with the country’s
deputy minister of transportation and telecommunication were also
present in the meeting.

At the meeting, the two sides reviewed expansion of economic and
commercial cooperation. Describing the current level of political
relations as satisfactory, Kharrazi voiced satisfaction over the
outcome of Iran-Armenia Economic Commission meeting and hoped to
witness further expansion of economic and commercial cooperation to
a desirable level.

Calling the two sides relations as very significant, he expressed the
hope that both sides would take more firm steps to broaden economic
cooperation. He said the two sides economic cooperation would help
restore regional security.

The Armenian envoy, for his part, described bilateral economic
activities as “fruitful” and said the already reached agreements
between the sides would have positive impacts on mutual
relations. Implementing macro-economic plans will have positive
results on ties between the two countries as well as those in the
region through the restoration of security and stability in the
region, he said adding that the countries in the region through a
sincere cooperation can prevent the interference of foreigners and
their influence on regional developments. The Islamic Republic of
Iran is a stabilizing force in the region, he noted. North-Corridor
is a strategic project in which Iran’s plays a very significant role,
he concluded.