IRAN CALLS FOR FURTHER TIES WITH ARMENIA TO STRENGTHEN REGIONAL SECURITY

Mehr News Agency
April 14 2009
Iran

Tehran, 14 April: Iranian Supreme National Security Council (SNSC)
Secretary Sa’id Jalili told Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan here
on Tuesday [14 April] that the Caucasus countries themselves are
capable of providing security in the region without the interference
of outside powers.

Jalali also said close cooperation between Iran and Armenia, which have
ample potential for cooperation in different areas, will strengthen
security in the sensitive Caucasus region.

The security official insisted that the territorial integrity of all
countries in the Caucasus region must be respected. The borders of
the countries in the region must be safe and free of tension.

He also said collective and multilateral security cooperation will
lead to a sustainable economic development in the region.

The Armenian president also pointed to sources of tension in the
region and insisted on exploring ways for a diplomatic solution to
the conflicts by a reliance on the regional collaboration.

Sargsyan added that regional security is achievable through regional
cooperation.

The Armenian leader also said the Islamic Republic plays an important
role in promoting regional stability and called Tehran-Yerevan
cooperation a good model for regional collaboration.

The volatile Caucasus region was thrown into even more turmoil in
August 2008 when Russia and Georgia fought a brief war over South
Ossetia.