IRAN/ ARMENIA FMS DISCUSS CAUCASUS DEVELOPMENTS

Qatar News Agency
September 16, 2008 Tuesday 5:05 PM EST

Tehran, September 16 (QNA) – Iranian and Armenian foreign ministers
exchanged views on Tuesday on the latest developments in the Caucasus
region and reviewed ways out of the current crisis.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Manouchehr Mottaki said
that in his meeting with Edward Nalbandyan, the two ministers also
discussed promotion of Tehran-Yerevan relations.

In his remarks also relayed by the iranian irna news agency ,
Mottaki added that the visit to Tehran by his Armenian counterpart
was a chance to maintain Iran’s diplomacy of easing tension in the
Caucasus region and also in pursuit of Iran’s talks with the Russian,
Azeri and German officials to this end.

Referring to his visit to Germany yesterday , Mottaki said his visit to
Berlin took place in line with Tehran’s shuttle diplomacy to promote
peace and stability in the Caucasus region.

In the aftermath of Georgia war, Iran has started an initiative
by making visits to Russia and Azerbaijan to mediate peace in the
Caucasus region.

He also met with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier,
to encourage the European countries to help solve the Caucasus crisis.

The Armenian minister, on his part, told reporters that he was
satisfied with his talks with Mottaki and wished that the current
regional crisis would be solved through peaceful negotiations.

Nalbandyan also voiced Yerevan’s support for Tehran’s detente diplomacy
stressing that Armenia would always welcome sustainable peace in the
region.