IRNA, Iran
January 25, 2005 Tuesday 5:56 PM EST

Haddad-Adel underlines equal rights for religious minorities

Tehran

Majlis Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel said here Tuesday religious
minorities in Iran`s legislative body have five representatives who
enjoy equal rights like all Muslims.

In his meeting with Armenian Minister of Social Welfare Agvan
Vartanyan, he said that Armenian scholars, linguists and Iranologists
have had special status for Iranian scholars and Yerevan is
considered as one of the leading Iranology center in the region.

“We do believe that the two countries, given their historical,
cultural and geographic commonalties, should make utmost efforts to
promote mutual relations in line with the national interests of the
two countries,” he added.

He termed the Armenians residing in Iran as noble and artistic people
who have no social problem in the country rather, they coexist with
their Muslim brothers and sisters.

Elsewhere, Haddad-Adel expressed hope that the Karabakh crisis would
be settled peacefully, so tranquility and stability would be restored
in the region.

He noted that the governments of Iran and Armenia have managed to
recognize their needs and potentials and opened new chapters for
mutual cooperation.

The Armenian minister, for his part, termed Iran as a great, stable
and powerful partner for Yerevan and expressed his satisfaction with
high level of political and trade relations between the two
countries.

“Iran enjoys thousand years of history and civilization and no threat
could backtrack Iran from its own path,” he added.

Referring to the upcoming presidential elections in Iran, he
expressed hope that Iran could take step towards further development.