ARMENIA HAS BEEN AND WILL BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR OF IRAN, IRANIAN AMBASSADOR SAYS
ArmenPress
Sept 3 2004
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 3, ARMENPRESS: Mohammad Khatami, the president
of the Islamic Republic of Iran, will pay a two-day state visit
to Armenia on September 8. The newly appointed Iranian ambassador
to Armenia, Alireza Haqiqian, told today reporters that this is a
response visit to Armenian president Robert Kocharian trip to Tehran
in 2001. “The September 8 visit is actually going to be an important
event in relations of the two countries and will recap all previous
developments in bilateral relations. The visit of president Mohamad
Khatami is an evidence that the two countries are determined to take
forward their relations,” the ambassador mentioned. He recalled words
by Khatami during Kocharian’s visit that “Armenia is a good neighbor
of Iran.” “By confirming these words of Khatami, I would like to
add that Armenia has been and will be a good neighbor of Iran,”
the ambassador noted.
The Iranian president will be accompanied by the ministers of foreign
affairs, economy and finance, and trade ministers. According to
the ambassador, the entire diversity of bilateral relations will
be discussed in the course of the meeting and the sides will sign
documents on energy, transport, customs cooperation, trade and culture
sectors. On the sidelines of the visit the 5-th sitting of a joint
inter-governmental commission will take place. The presidents of the
two countries as well as other highly- ranking officials will exchange
ideas of regional and international significance. Concurrently,
the transport ministers of the two countries will participate in the
opening of a transport terminal on the cross border, in the vicinity
of Iranian Norduz settlement.
Responding to a question about an Iranian credit to Armenia for
building the Iran-Armenian gas pipeline, ambassador Haqiqian mentioned
that the issue is in the phase of discussion and voiced his hope that
the final agreement will be reached during the president’s visit.
Speaking on Iran-Armenia bilateral political ties, the ambassador
mentioned that they are on a good level in all spheres. “Concurrently,
we think that there are still many possibilities to even more deepen
and develop bilateral relations. We think that we can uncover the
unused potential, bring it to life and focus on the implementation of
all our fundamental plans,” he stated. “I am sure that Khatami’s visit
will open a new page in bilateral relation and will be beneficial
to the people of both countries. I pin hopes that the growth and
development of relations between the two countries will go on,”
the ambassador said.