SPEAKER OF IRANIAN MAJLIS CONSIDERS ARMENIAN-IRANIAN INTERSATE RELATIONS AS EXEMPLARY FOR REGION
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 11 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The
centuries-old neighbor Iran has beeen the most effective partner,
especially in Armenia’s difficult time when a blockade was imposed
on the country. The Speaker of the RA National Assembly Tigran
Torosian stated that during a tete-a-tete talk with the Speaker
of the Iranian Majlis Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel on September 11. The
NA Speaker expressed his satisfaction that Iran’s majlis speaker
is paying a visit to Armenia for the first time since Armenia’s
independence. In terms of bilateral relations, the parliamentary
speaker attached importance to the cooperation in the energy sector,
highlighting the programs on construction of the gas pipeline and the
hydropower plant on the River Arax, and the third high-volatge power
transmission line. Tigran Torosian expressed his gratitude to majlis’
speaker for his favorable treatment of the Iranian Armenians. In
connection with the developments related to Iran’s nuclear program,
Tigran Torosian expressed a hope that further problems will be solved
through negotiations. Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel considered the interstate
relations as exemplary for the region, saying that these relations
have entered a new stage after the mutual visits of the two countries’
presidents. He said that the Armenians have always been treated with
respect in Iran, as evidenced by the Armenian deputies’ presence
in the majlis. After the tete-a-tete talk, a meeting took place
between the delegation headed by the Iranian Majlis’ Speaker and the
RA National Assembly Speaker, the NA Vice Speaker Vahan Hovhannisian,
as well as representatives of the NA standing committees, factions and
groups. Tigran Torosian expressed confidence that the current visit
provides a basis for deepening the interparliamentary relations. The
majlis’ speaker underlined the importance of Iran’s balanced and
discreet position on the issue of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The
NA Speaker also spoke about the careful treatment of the Armenian
cultural monuments in Iran, unlike another neighbor that desproys
these monuments. Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel noted that his country’s
foreign policy is based on Islam which does not allow to form its
foreign policy in the interests of one group at the expense of other
groups. He pointed out the importance of strengthening the relations
with Armenia, of further cooperation in the energy sector and said
that his country is in favor of the peaceful settlement of the Nagono
Karabakh conflict and continuation of the negoatiations between the
two countries’ presidents. According to the RA National Assembly PR
Department, the memebers of the delegation headed by Iran’s majlis
speaker met in the parliament with the Armenia-Iran Frienship Deputy
Group. Galust Sahakian, head of the Armenia-Iran Friendship Deputy
Group, noted that the political and economic links between the two
countries are strengthening, the interparliamentary friendship is
deepening. It was mentioned that the year 2006 was a fruitful one
in terms of cooperation between the two countries’ parliaments:
a group of Armenian MPs paid a working visit to Iran recently and
had several important meetings there. Gevorg Vardan, co-chairman
of the Iran-Armenia Friendship Deputy Group, also highlighted the
cooperation between the two countries and parliaments, noting that
interparliamentary links have reached the level of economic relations.