IRAN’S SUPREME LEADER WELCOMES "GROWING" TIES WITH ARMENIA
Mehr News Agency
April 14 2009
Iran
Tehran, 14 April: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamene’i said on Tuesday
[14 April] that outside powers resort to different ploys to halt the
emergence of regional blocs.
Great powers are trying to prevent the growth of regional blocs
through different pretexts, the leader said in a meeting with Armenian
President Serzh Sargsyan who was on two-day visit to Iran.
The leader also said Tehran welcomes the growing amicable ties with
the Armenian government and nation and praised ethnic Armenians for
the sacrifices they made in Iran during Iraq’s war against Iran in
the 1980s.
Our Armenian compatriots defended the revolution shoulder to shoulders
with their Muslim Iranian brothers during the imposed war for eight
years.
The leader went on to say that in almost all wars foreign hands
are involved. For example, he said the United States and certain
European countries provoked Saddam to invade Iran. He added Israel
also launched intensive wars on Lebanon in 2006 and the Gaza Strip
early this year with a green light from Washington.
In most wars and regional conflicts the covert and overt hands of
great powers are seen like the Zionist regimes attacks on Gaza and
Lebanon that were done with a support from America. But the failure of
Saddam in the imposed war, and the failure of Zionists in the 22-day
war on Gaza and 33-day war on Lebanon show that dependence on outside
powers will not actually lead to anywhere.
Ayatollah Khamene’i also lauded efforts by Yerevan to establish
friendship between Armenia and its neighbours.
For his part, Sargsyan said he is determined to develop comprehensive
relationship with Iran and said he is optimistic about the prospect
of ties between the two neighbours.
We have come to Iran for a comprehensive development of ties and are
sure of a brighter future in relationship between the two countries.
Sargsyan visited Tehran at the head of a high-ranking political and
economic delegation. During his stay, eight cooperation agreements
were signed between the two sides.
I will implement all agreements of this visit, he explained.
He also called Iran as strong-willed country that is pursuing a
logical and balanced policy in regard to regional developments.
From: Baghdasarian