IRANIAN LEADER BREAKS OFF ARMENIAN VISIT

RIA Novosti
Oct 23 2007
Russia

YEREVAN, October 23 (RIA Novosti) – Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad has unexpectedly cut his two-day visit to Yerevan short,
cancelling his remaining plans, the Armenian president’s press service
said Tuesday.

Viktor Sogomonyan, the Armenian president’s press secretary, said
Ahmadinejad, who arrived in Yerevan Monday, had returned to Tehran
early due to unforeseen circumstances in Iran.

"This will in no way affect the quality of Armenian-Iranian talks
conducted at a high level or the implementation of agreements,"
the press secretary said.

Sogomonyan said the Iranian leader had discussed with Armenian
President Robert Kocharyan prospects for expanding bilateral political
and economic cooperation, which was followed by a meeting between
official delegations and a briefing.

Ahmadinejad also delivered a lecture at Yerevan State University on
human rights.

The Iranian leader planned to speak at the country’s National Assembly,
visit the Blue Mosque in the country’s capital and a controversial
memorial commemorating victims of an Armenian genocide by the Ottoman
Empire in 1915.

The IRNA news agency said that Ahmadinejad had completed the visit
agenda and the Iranian delegation was returning to Tehran.