"IRAN IS READY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO NEGOTIATION PROCESS OF KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT," MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Jul 23, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Serge Sargsian, the RA Prime Minister,
received Manuchehr Mottaki, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Islamic Republic of Iran and Co-Chairman of the Inter-Governmental
Commission for the Coordination of Armenian-Iranian Relations, and
the delegation headed by him on Juty 20. At the beginning of the
meeting Manuchehr Mottaki, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Islamic Republic of Iran, conveyed the greetings of Parviz Davudi,
the first Vice President of Iran and the re-affirmation of the visit
of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran
to the RA Prime Minister. The Foreign Minister expressed hope that
the RA Prime Minister will accept the invitation and that they will
receive the RA NA Speaker and the RA Prime Minister in their country
as guests by the end of the year.

Serge Sargsian thanked him and accepted the invitation, attaching
importance to the bilateral high ranking mutual visits from the point
of view of a further strengthening of Armenian-Iranian relations. The
Prime Minister congratulated on the occasion of organizing the seventh
sitting of the Inter-Governmental Commission for the Coordination of
Armenian-Iranian Relations, considering the circumstance of appointing
the Foreign Minister at the post of the Chairman of the Commission as
a step directed at making the work of the Commission more productive
and strengthening Armenian-Iranian relations. In case of active work,
according to the RA Prime Minister, the Inter-Governmental Commission
can play a considerable role in the increase of commodity circulation
between the two countries, implementation of mutually beneficial
and prospective programs in a number of spheres, and in bringing
the arrangements made by the Presidents of Armenia and Iran to life,
in particular.

M. Mottaki mentioned that the implementation of infrastructural
programs greatly contributes to the development of bilateral relations
and considered the cooperation in the sphere of energy as a model one
in this respect. He as well attached importance to the increase in
volume of commodity circulation and mentioned that currently Iran
has over 10 billion dollars worth of commodity circulation with
different countries of the world and that it imports goods of about
40 billion dollars. "We consider the increase in the import volumes
from Armenia to Iran in the sphere of foreign trade as primary for
Iran," Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs said and added that there
are a lot of opportunities and potential, that have not been used so
far. According to him, Armenia can also become a country re-exporting
to Iran. He also mentioned the fact that goods of different countries
costing over 11 billion dollars have been exported to Iran from the
Arabic Emirates only in 2006.

The Minister of Foteign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of
Iran attached importance to the conclusion of an agreement
concerning the free commercial regime between the two countries,
which has become a topic for discussion in the sitting of the
Inter-Governmental Commission as well: they have been ordered to
prepare the document for signing in a very definite period, that is,
during two months. M. Mottaki also spoke about the prospectiveness
of cooperation in the bank system and implementation of mutually
beneficial programs in the sphere of transport, and stressed with
regard to the latter that Iran entitles Armenia to a great role in
the North-South transport passage.

M. Mottaki also informed the RA Prime Minister about the process
of negotiations concerning the program of nuclear energy of Iran,
and stressed that his country is for the settlement of any problem
through negotiations.

As for the Karabakh conflict settlement, the position of Iran,
in the conviction of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is the same,
and taking into consideration this position, Iran is ready to provide
assistance for the negotiation process if necessary.

Serge Sargsian attached importance to the establishment of peace
and stability in the region as soon as possible and mentioned that
Armenia has always stressed and appreciated the role of Iran, which
has adopted a balanced position in providing peace and stability in
the region. "The economic development of a region, which is full of
dangers, cannot be compared with the one in a stable and safe region,"
the RA Prime Minister said. He stressed that the approach of Armenia is
the same: it is for the settlement of the problem through negotiations
and compromises.