IRAN SAYS CAUCASUS COUNTRIES CAN PROVIDE THEIR OWN SECURITY

Tehran Times
April 15 2009
Iran

TEHRAN – Iranian Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary
Saeed Jalili told Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan here on Tuesday
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.