PARLIAMENT SPEAKER MEETS ARMENIAN FM

Fars News Agency, Iran
Dec 18 2006

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian Parliament Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad
Adel in a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian here
on Sunday stressed the need for the development of Tehran-Yerevan ties.

During the meeting, Haddad Adel voiced pleasure in the growing trend
of the two states’ friendly relations, and pointed out that execution
of economic and industrial projects in the energy sector, particularly
completion of the natural gas pipeline between Iran and Armenia as
well as the expansion of roads, plays a crucially important role in the
development of the two countries’ economic and industrial cooperation.

He further called for maximum use of the two sides’ potentials and
possibilities to consolidate the two nations’ friendly relations.

Elsewhere, the top legislative official noted the United States’
pressures on the Iranian nation and efforts by the western countries
aimed at imposing sanctions against Iran on the pretext of nuclear
activities, and stressed, "The high turnout in the recent elections
in Iran, which displayed the Iranians’ solidarity and unity, also had
this message for the United States and Europe that the Iranian nation
resists against pressures and stands on the deeply rooted ideals of
the Islamic Revolution."

He also said that the United States is exerting pressure on Iran on the
pretext of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear activities, and continued,
"If Iran had followed the US lead, Washington would not have objected
Iran even if the latter intended to produce nuclear arms."

"The United States is actually worried about Iran’s independence,"
Haddad Adel added.

The chief lawmaker further assured that Iran’s regional policies serve
reinvigoration of interaction and friendship among regional nations,
and pointing to Iran’s role in soothing regional crises, he stressed
that existence of a powerful and stable Iran serves the interests of
all the countries in the region.

For his part, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stressed his
country’s willingness for further developing relations with Iran, and
reminded that the frequent meetings by the two countries’ officials
illustrates the firm determination of both sides to consolidate and
deepen their mutual relations.

He further briefed Haddad Adel about his talks with various Iranian
officials, and said that his satisfactory talks with the Iranian
officials had a positive effect on the promotion of the two states’
economic, industrial and scientific relations.

To conclude his words, the Armenian foreign minister voiced his
country’s strong support for Iran’s peaceful civilian nuclear
activities and programs.