MOTTAKI HOPEFUL ABOUT ESTABLISHMENT OF IRAN’S N. RIGHTS

Fars News Agency, Iran
July 20 2007

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki
expressed hope that his country’s nuclear rights would be established
through the new series of talks between Tehran and the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

According to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry’s Information
and Press Bureau, Mottaki made the remarks in a meeting with his
Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanian in Yerevan on Friday, where the
two ministers discussed bilateral ties, and exchanged views about
regional and international issues.

During the meeting, Mottaki briefed his Armenian counterpart about
Iran’s nuclear case, and stressed Tehran’s permanent, constructive
cooperation with the IAEA.

"We hope that the rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran are
established in the framework of our new talks with the Agency and the
negotiations between (Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali) Larijani and
(EU foreign policy chief Javier) Solana," he added.

Elsewhere, the Iranian top diplomat pointed to the two countries’
consolidated relations, and said that his visit to Armenia is aimed
at a follow-up to the results of the talks and agreements made in
Tehran by Iranian and Armenian presidents.

Mottaki also assessed as satisfactory the achievements made by the
five committees of the two countries’ joint cooperation commission,
saying that the committees have properly identified new potentials for
the further expansion of ties and cooperation between Iran and Armenia.

For his part, Armenian foreign minister noted the two countries’
interests and incentives, and underlined the strong resolve of the two
nations and officials to further deepen ties and boost cooperation,
saying that inauguration of the gas transfer pipeline between the two
countries indicated their firm determination to take longer strides
in bolstering cooperation.

Oskanian also briefed Mottaki about the latest developments and talks
over Karabakh issue.