IRNA, Iran
Feb 8 2005

Rowhani:Strategic projects important for regional security

Tehran, Feb 8, IRNA — Secretary of Iran`s Supreme National Security
Council (SNSC) Hojatoleslam Hassan Rowhani said here Tuesday that
strategic projects such as gas and power transfer from Iran to
Armenia
is of high importance for regional security and economy.
In a meeting with Secretary of Armenia`s National Security Council
Serzh Sarkisian on Tuesday, Rowhani said Tehran and Yerevan share
deep
cultural and historical commonalties, stressing expansion of cultural

and scientific relations between the two sides.
He said regional states themselves should be involved in the
discussions regarding regional security projects and they should
adopt
proper strategies for collective regional cooperation.
He added that the SNSC is ready to cooperate with regional states
to make the regional strategy successful.
He added that Baku-Yerevan direct dialogue is an effective means
of settling the Karabakh dispute and said Tehran is ready to offer
any
kind of help to resolve the crisis, taking settlement of the crisis
`necessary` for economic development and progress.
Rowhani ruled out military method for settlement of Karabakh
problem and said fair solution, agreed upon by both sides, and taking

into account the wishes of Karabakh citizens in political dialogues
are the proper ways to overcome the Karabakh crisis.
He said the North-South transit corridor is an important axis for
development of regional economy, which has a `significant` impact on
regional stability and security.
He added that there is no impediment to expansion of the Tehran-
Yerevan relations and expansion of ties would further consolidate
peace, stability and security in the region.
The top Iranian security official said Tehran and Yerevan would
never allow foreign agents to interfere in their relations.
For his part, Sarkisian said Tehran-Yerevan cooperation is
integral part of regional security and establishment of a regional
security system with the participation of all regional states is
inevitable.
He called for dialogue among national security council secretaries
of regional states to loon into the establishment of a collective
cooperation system.
He said his country is ready to settle Karabakh crisis within the
framework of a collective settlement of all the issues under dispute.

Sarkisian ruled out any project for step-by-step and phased
settlement of Karabakh dispute and thanked Iran for supporting
Armenia`s membership in the North-South transit corridor.