MOTTAKI: TEHRAN CLOSELY FOLLOWING UP CAUCASUS EVENTS
IRNA
Sept 17
Tbilisi
Iran-Georgia-Mottaki
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Wednesday that Tehran
was closely following up ongoing events in the Caucasus and wants
stability and security restored to the region.
"Recent bitter events and human catastrophe have been regrettable
and we have been closely following the events, given our sensitivity
towards restoration of security and stability there," Mottaki told
Georgian President Michael Saakashvili here Wednesday.
He said Iran has offering solutions to different parties in the region
in order to get out of the current stalemate and help restore stability
and security.
Consultations have been held with Russian, Azeri, Armenian, and
German officials on mechanisms for restoring stability and security
to the Caucasus, said Mottaki, adding that today in Tbilisi too he
ould discuss with Georgian officials ways of getting out of the crisis.
He hoped that suitable steps will be taken during his Georgia visit
towards restoration of security and peace to the Caucasus.
Mottaki also discussed with Saakashvili a host of other subjects,
including ways of expanding bilateral ties.
Saakashvili, for his part, said Iran holds a major status and a
significant position in the region.
"We attach special importance to expansion of relations with the
Islamic Republic of Iran," said Saakashvili, adding that Tbilisi and
Tehran should maintain regular contacts to that end.
Terming present conflict in the Caucasus as "devastating", Saakashvili
hoped that consultations at regional level and Iran’s contribution
would lead to re-establishment of security and stability in the region.
He said, "We are ready to have necessary cooperation with any regional
power that can help normalize conditions," he added.