Zawya, UAE
March 14 2009

Mottaki: Iran, Armenia relations have been expanding

14 March 2009

Tehran: Minister of Foreign Affairs Manouchehr Mottaki said relations
between Iran and Armenia, directed by the presidents of the two
countries, have been expanding. Mottaki, in meting with Armenia
President Serzh Sarkissian in Yerevan Friday, said he had had good
consultations with Armenian officials on President Sarkissian’s
upcoming trip to Iran and expressed hope that new steps would be taken
in bilateral relations by signing new documents.

Expounding on potentials of both countries on cooperation and trade,
Mottaki said the existing relations are not what should be and it is
expected that new ideas could be put forward to deepen ties in
different fields.

He added," We hope to promote the trend of development in the region
by signing free trade agreement, building railway, construction of
Aras hydraulic power plant, and further use of abilities of Iranian
contractors in different projects in Armenia."

On political situation in Caucasus, Mottaki said peace is the first
condition for sustainable development in the region and Iran does what
it can to help its Azeri and Armenian friends to end their dispute in
Karabakh.

President Sarkissian, for his part, expressed hope that big
developments could be created in bilateral relations.

He added," Our ultimate goal is joining the Persian Gulf to the Black
Sea and to materialize it, we need to implement big projects in
infrastructure among which is the railway to connect the two countries
that is an important project for Armenia.

President Sarkissian called for promoting bilateral relations in two
fields: first, giving momentum to existing cooperation and second,
planning for greater objectives.

He said he would pursue these objectives in his trip to Tehran.

On the role of Iran in resolving regional disputes, President
Serkissian praised the role and said," Iran as an influential country
in the region, has always had a balanced role and we welcome Iran’s
efforts to end the disputes in Karabakh."

Iranian foreign minister has been in Yerevan since Thursday on an
invitation extended by his Armenian counterpart Edward Naalbandian.

© IRNA 2009